Chemistry of Life - Lecture 2 Flashcards

Vocabulary terms related to the chemistry of life, covering key concepts, definitions, and processes relevant to biological molecules and their functions.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down by chemical means into other substances.

Atom

The smallest piece of an element that retains the characteristics of that element.

Molecule

A group of atoms bonded together.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when atoms share electrons.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed when one atom donates one or more electrons to another atom.

Hydronium Ion (H3O+)

A water molecule that gains a proton (H+) and carries a positive charge.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond between the positive end of one polar molecule and the negative end of another polar molecule.

Hydrophilic

Substances that interact well with water.

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not mix well with water.

pH Scale

A measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution.

Buffer

A solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules that serve as energy sources and structural materials, made of monosaccharides.

Proteins

Molecules composed of amino acids that serve as the building blocks for cells and perform various functions.

Nucleic Acids

Biological molecules (DNA and RNA) that carry genetic information.

Lipids

Hydrophobic organic molecules that include fats, oils, and steroids, important for energy storage.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction where monomers are joined together, releasing a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks down a polymer into monomers by adding water.

Monomer

A single unit that can join together to form a polymer.

Polymer

A large molecule made up of repeating subunits called monomers.

Isotope

Different forms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element.

Atomic Mass

The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Electronegativity

A measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons.

Polarity

The distribution of electrical charges over the atoms joined by the bond.