Unit 1 AP Bio Vocab

Acid

compound that donates a proton (H+) when dissolved in a solution

Activation Energy

energy input necessary to initiate a chemical reaction

Amino Acids

molecule that makes up proteins; compound of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur

Atoms

smallest basic unit of matter

Base

compound that accepts a proton (H+) when dissolved in solution

Carbohydrates

molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; includes sugars and starch

Catalyst

substance that decreases reaction rate in a chemical reaction

Chemical Reactions

process by which substances change into different substances through the breaking and forming chemical bonds

Covalent Bonding

chemical bonds formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons

Enzyme

protein that catalyzes chemical reactions for organisms

Fatty Acids

hydrocarbon chain often bonded to glycerol in a lipid

Functional Group

the portion of a molecule that is active in a chemical reaction and that determines the properties of many organic compounds

Glycerides

a fatty acid ester of glycerol

Glycerol

a clear, colorless, viscous, sweet

Hydrogen Bonding

attraction between slightly positive hydrogen atom and a slightly negative atom

Induced Fit

the binding of the substrate to the enzyme must cause a change in the shape of the enzyme that results in the proper alignment of the catalytic groups surface

Inorganic

compounds that do not contain carbon

Ionic Bonding

chemical bond formed through the electrical force between oppositely charged ions

Ions

atom that had gained or lost one or more electrons

Lipids

nonpolar molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; includes fats and oils

Lock and Key Theory

enzyme substrate interaction suggesting the enzyme (lock) and the substrate (key) must fit exactly into one another

Nucleic Acids

polymer of nucleotides; the genetic material of organisms

Nucleus

center of the atom, contains protons and neutrons

Organic

compound containing carbon

Peptides

a molecule consisting of two or more amino acids

pH

measurement of acidity; related to free hydrogen ion concentration in solution

Products

substance formed by a chemical reaction

Proteins

polymer composed of amino acids linked by peptide bonds; folds into a particular structure depending on bonds between amino acids

Reactants

substance that is changed by a chemical reaction

Substrate

reactant in a chemical reaction upon which an enzymes acts.