Biology 110X Exam Study Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering fundamental concepts in Biology 110X Modules 1 and 6, including scientific methods, matter, chemical bonding, water properties, biomolecules, and chemical reactions.

Biology

The study of all forms of life.

Species

A particular type of living thing that is able to reproduce by interbreeding amongst themselves.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of constant internal conditions of an organism, such as humans sweating to maintain body temperature.

Hypothesis

A proposed answer to a scientific question.

Control Group

A group used for comparison only that does not receive treatment during an experiment.

Experimental Group

A group that receives treatment during an experiment to test out a question.

Quantitative Data

Measurable, numerical experimental data, such as male horses being $7\%$ larger than female horses.

Qualitative Data

Descriptive, non-numerical experimental data, such as male horses often running faster than female horses.

Independent Variable

A condition in an experiment that is manipulated or changed by the scientist.

Dependent Variable

The measurable, experimental data resulting from an experiment.

Constant Variable

A condition or variable that is kept unchanged during an experiment.

Atom

The smallest basic unit of matter.

Element

One particular type of atom that cannot be broken down any farther by chemical means.

Proton

A subatomic particle located in the atom that carries a positive charge.

Electron

A subatomic particle located in the atom that carries a negative charge.

Neutron

A subatomic particle located in the atom that carries a neutral charge, calculated by mass number minus atomic number.

Compound

A substance made of atoms of different elements bonded together, such as $CH_4$ or $CO_2$.

Ion

An atom that has gained or lost electrons, acquiring an electrical charge.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed when an atom gives or receives electrons, gaining a charge that holds the two resulting ions together.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when atoms share electrons.

Hydrogen Bond

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

Polar Molecule

A molecule in which the constituent atoms have an unequal pull on the shared electrons.

Cohesion

The property of water where water molecules stick to each other.

Adhesion

The property of water where water molecules stick to other substances.

Solvent

The substance in a solution that does the dissolving (e.g., water).

Solute

The substance in a solution that gets dissolved (e.g., salt or powder).

Solution

The uniform mixture resulting from a solvent and a solute (e.g., saltwater or lemonade).

Acid

A substance with a pH value strictly less than $7$ ($< 7$).

Base

A substance with a pH value strictly greater than $7$ ($> 7$).

Neutral

A substance with a pH value exactly equal to $7$.

Monomer

Individual chemical subunits that link together to make up biomolecules.

Polymer

Large macromolecules made of many monomers bonded together.

Carbohydrates

Biomolecules made of monosaccharides that store and release energy, found in grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Lipids

Biomolecules made of glycerol and fatty acids that store long-term energy, found in olive oil and butter.

Proteins

Biomolecules made of amino acids bonded by peptide bonds, required for the structure and function of cells and tissues.

Peptide Bond

A specific type of covalent bond formed between amino acids in proteins.

Nucleic Acids

Biomolecules made of nucleotides that provide genetic information to make proteins (e.g., DNA and RNA).

Homologous Mixture

A mixture with a uniform composition throughout, such as sugar dissolved in water.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture where the individual components remain distinct from one another, such as oil and water.

Levels of Organization

The biological hierarchy consisting of organism, population, biological community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere.

General Chemical Equation

The standard representation of a chemical change, formatted as Reactants $\rightarrow$ Products (e.g., $CO_2 + H_2O \rightarrow H_2CO_3$).

Activation Energy

The minimum amount of energy needed for a reactant to form a product in a chemical reaction.

Exothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction or process that gives off heat or light, such as a campfire.

Endothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction or process that absorbs heat or energy, such as cooking an egg.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that reduces the activation energy needed to start a chemical reaction.

what are the characteristics of all living things

one or more cells

reproduction

respond to stimuli/environment

grown/develop

require energy

displays organization

adaptations over time

homeostasis