Bio4

polar covalent bond

Type of covalent bond that forms as a result of unequal electron sharing, resulting in creating slightly positive and negative charged molecule regions

Nonpolar covalent bond

Type a covalent bond that forms between atoms when electrons are shared equally between them

Electronegativity

Ability of some elements to attract electrons (often a hydrogen atoms), acquiring partial negative charges in molecules and creating partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms

Hydrogen bond

Weak bond between slightly positively charged hydrogen atoms and slightly negatively charged atoms in other molecules

Specific heat capacity

the amount of heat one gram of a substance must absorb or lose to change its temperature by one degree Celsius

Heat of vaporization of water

High amount of energy required for liquid water to turn into water vapor

Solvent

Substance capable of dissolving another substance

Hydrophilic

Describes ions or polar molecules that interact well with other polar molecules such as water

Hydrophobic

Describes uncharged nonpolar molecules that do not interact well with polar molecules such as water

Cohesion

Intermolecular forces between water molecules caused by the polar nature of water; responsible for surface tension

Surface tension

Tension at the surface of a body of liquid that prevents the molecules from separating; created by the attractive cohesive forces between the liquid’s molecules

Adhesion

Attraction between water molecules and other molecules

pH scale

Scale ranging from zero to 14 that is inversely proportional to the hydrogen ions’ concentration in a solution

Acid

Molecule that donates hydrogen ions and increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution

Base

Molecule that donates hydroxide ions or otherwise binds excess hydrogen ions and decreases the hydrogen ions’ concentration in a solution

Buffer

Substance that resists a change in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen or hydroxide ions

Organic molecule

Any molecule containing carbon (except carbon dioxide)

Hydrocarbon

Molecule that consists only of carbon and hydrogen

Isomers

Molecules that differ from one another even though they share the same chemical formula

Functional group

Group of atoms that provides or imparts a specific function to a carbon skeleton