Week 1: Cell Chemistry - Matter and Elements

A collection of vocabulary flashcards related to the fundamental concepts of cell chemistry, matter, and elements.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space, including living and non-living things.

Element

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical or physical means.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more elements are chemically bonded together in a fixed proportion.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances where each retains its own properties and can be separated.

Physical Change

A change that alters the appearance or form of a substance but does not change its composition.

Chemical Change

A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.

Isotope

Atoms of an element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Atomic Number (Z)

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which identifies the element.

Mass Number (A)

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Subatomic Particles

Particles smaller than an atom; includes protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A neutral subatomic particle located in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Periodic Table

A tabular arrangement of elements based on their atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture with a uniform composition throughout.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture with a non-uniform composition, where the different components can be seen.

Luster

A characteristic property of metals that describes their ability to reflect light.

Conductivity

The ability of a material to conduct heat or electricity.

Ductility

The ability of a material, especially metals, to be drawn out into a thin wire.

Malleability

The ability of a metal to be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking.

Alkali Metals

Elements in Group 1 of the periodic table that are highly reactive and include lithium, sodium, and potassium.

Alkaline Earth Metals

Elements in Group 2 of the periodic table that are reactive and include beryllium and magnesium.

Noble Gases

Inert gases found in Group 18 of the periodic table that are unreactive due to their full valence shell.

Metalloids

Elements that have properties of both metals and non-metals.

Chemical Symbol

A one- or two-letter notation representing a chemical element.

Mendeleev's Periodic Table

The first Periodic Table, created by Dmitri Mendeleev, arranged according to atomic mass and properties.