Basic Chemistry – Study Guide

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering essential chemistry concepts needed for understanding biological processes in living organisms.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into other substances; made of only one type of atom.

Molecule

Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.

Compound

A substance composed of two or more different elements chemically combined.

The Big Four Elements

The four most abundant elements in living matter: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N).

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element.

Proton

A subatomic particle with a positive charge, located in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with no charge, located in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative charge, located in the electron cloud.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom that determines the element's identity.

Mass Number

The sum of protons and neutrons in an atom.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.

Covalent Bond

A type of bond in which atoms share electrons.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond with equal sharing of electrons.

Polar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond with unequal sharing of electrons, creating partial charges.

Ionic Bond

A type of bond formed by the transfer of electrons and attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak attraction between a partially positive hydrogen atom and a partially negative atom.

Molecular Shape

The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule that determines its function.

Atomic Structure

The arrangement of protons, neutrons, and electrons within an atom that affects bonding.

Biological Activity

The function or role of a molecule in living organisms, often determined by its shape.