Biology and Chemistry Study Guide

Flashcards covering key biology and chemistry concepts for exam preparation.

Surface Area to Volume Ratio

The ratio of a cell's surface area to its volume; crucial for efficient material exchange via diffusion.

Mitochondria

Organelles known as the powerhouse of the cell that produce ATP through aerobic respiration.

Aerobic Respiration

The metabolic process utilizing glucose and oxygen to produce ATP, carbon dioxide, and water.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals released from presynaptic neurons that bind to postsynaptic receptors to transmit nerve impulses.

Photosynthesis

The process by which aquatic plants convert light energy into chemical energy, typically measured by oxygen output.

Antibiotic Resistance

The ability of bacteria to survive treatment with antibiotics through mutations or gene transfer.

Natural Selection

The process by which certain traits become more common in a population due to improved survival or reproduction.

Empirical Formula

The simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound.

Ionic Bonding

The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of electrons.

Moles

A unit for measuring the amount of substance, containing approximately 6.022 x 10^23 entities.

Physical Change

A change that alters form or state but does not change the chemical composition.

Chemical Change

A change that results in the formation of new substances with different chemical properties.

Vector Quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction, such as velocity and force.

Scalar Quantity

A quantity that has only magnitude, such as mass and energy.