Chemistry of Life

Elements

Pure substances that cannot be broken down chemically into simpler kinds of matter

Protons

Positively charged subatomic particles that determine the element

Neutron

Neutral subatomic particles that can vary for an element, producing isotopes

Radioisotopes

Isotopes with unstable nuclei that decay through radioactivity

Half Life

Time required for half of a radioactive sample's nucleus to decay

Electrons

Negatively charged subatomic particles outside the nucleus

Ionic Bond

Result from the transfer of electrons, forming ions

Covalent Bond

Atoms share electrons, resulting in a molecule

Hydrophobic

Nonpolar substances that do not dissolve in water

Hydrophilic

Polar substances that mix with water

Electronegativity

Ability of an atom to attract electrons

Hydrogen Bond

Attraction between the negative and positive parts of polar molecules

pH

Measure of the acidity and alkalinity of a solution

Isomers

Organic compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures

Functional Group

Components of organic molecules involved in chemical reactions

Polymer

Long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks

Monosaccharide

Simple sugar serving as energy

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage

Polysaccharide

Polymer of sugar determining structure and function

Fatty Acid

Hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group at one end

Purines

A type of nitrogenous base in DNA and RNA, including adenine (A) and guanine (G).

Pyrimidines

A type of nitrogenous base in DNA and RNA, including thymine (T) and cytosine (C).

Antiparallel structure

The arrangement of DNA strands in opposite directions, where one runs 5' to 3' and the other 3' to 5'.

Hydrogen bonds

Weak chemical bonds formed between specific base pairs in DNA and RNA, like A-T (2 bonds) and G-C (3 bonds).

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid molecule essential for various biological functions, often single-stranded.