SS H BIO Unit 1: Biology and Chemistry Fundamentals

Vocabulary flashcards covering core biological and chemical concepts including atomic structure, molecular bonding, and biomolecules.

Stimuli

Signals to which an organism responds.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation or answer to a scientific question that can be tested.

Independent variable

The factor that is manipulated or changed in an experiment.

Dependent variable

The factor that is measured or observed in an experiment, which changes in response to the independent variable.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of constant internal conditions in an organism.

Growth

The process of increasing in physical size or mass.

Development

The series of changes an organism undergoes as it matures into an adult.

evolve

To change over time through the process of evolution.

Proton

A subatomic particle with a positive charge located in the atomic nucleus.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with no charge/neutral charge located in the atomic nucleus.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative charge that orbits the nucleus.

Molecule

Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.

Ionic bond

A chemical bond formed through the electrical attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond formed when atoms share a pair of electrons.

Hydrogen bond

An attraction between a slightly positive hydrogen atom and a slightly negative atom.

valence electrons

The electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in forming bonds.

noble/inert gasses

Elements in the far right column of the periodic table known for being non-reactive due to a full outer shell of electrons.

Stable atom

An atom that has a full outer shell of electrons and is unlikely to react.

Ion

An atom that has gained or lost one or more electrons and has an electrical charge.

Polar covalent bond

A type of covalent bond where electrons are shared unequally.

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solution.

Solvent

The substance in which the solute dissolves.

cohesion

The attraction between molecules of the same substance.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions in living things.

Denature

The process where a protein loses its shape and function, often due to changes in pH or temperature.

Active site

The specific region on an enzyme where substrates bind and a chemical reaction occurs.

Substrate

The reactant on which an enzyme works.

Reactants (of a chemical reaction)

The substances that are changed during a chemical reaction.

Products (of a chemical reaction)

The substances made by a chemical reaction.

Carbon

An essential element of life with Atomic Number $6$ that can form four covalent bonds.

Nitrogen

An element with Atomic Number $7$ found in proteins and nucleic acids.

Radiocarbon dating

A method for determining the age of an object containing organic material by using the properties of radiocarbon.

Carbon 12

The most common isotope of Carbon, containing $6$ protons and $6$ neutrons, denoted as $^{12}C$.

Carbon 14

A radioactive isotope of Carbon containing $6$ protons and $8$ neutrons, denoted as $^{14}C$.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

Carbohydrate

A macromolecule composed of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen, used for energy and structure.

Protein

A polymer made of monomers called amino acids.

Nucleic acid

A polymer made of nucleotides, such as DNA or RNA.

Lipid

A non-polar macromolecule including fats, oils, and cholesterol.

Monomer

Each subunit in a complete molecule; a building block for polymers.

Polymer

A large molecule made of many monomers bonded together.

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrate, consisting of a single sugar molecule.

Polysaccharide

A complex carbohydrate composed of long chains of monosaccharides.

Glucose

A simple sugar with the chemical formula $C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}$ that is an important energy source.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide that serves as energy storage in animals and fungi.

Amino acid

The monomer that makes up proteins.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

Triglyceride

A lipid molecule made of three fatty acid tails and one glycerol molecule.

Saturated fatty acid

A fatty acid with only single bonds between Carbon atoms.

Unsaturated fatty acid

A fatty acid with at least one double bond between Carbon atoms.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; the molecule that stores genetic information.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; the molecule that assists in protein synthesis and genetic expression.

Phospholipid

A lipid that contains phosphorus and is a structural component in cell membranes.