Chapter 2 Bio Vocab

adhesion

the attraction between water molecules and molecules of a different substance

amino acid

monomer of a protein

chemical bond

an interaction between two or more elements that results in formation of molecules

cohesion

the intermolecular forces between water molecules caused by the polar nature of water; creates surface tension

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

double stranded polymer of nucleotides carrying hereditary info of the cell

fat

a lipid molecule composed of three fatty acids and a glycerol (triglyceride) that typically exists solid at room temperature

hydrogen bond

weak bond between partially positively charged hydrogen atoms and partially negatively charged elements or molecules

hydrophilic

substance that dissolves in water

hydrophobic

substance that does not dissolve in water

ionic bond

a chemical bond that forms between ions of opposite charges; metal and nonmetal

lipids

a class of macromolecules that are nonpolar and insoluble in water

macromolecule

large molecule, often formed by polymerization of smaller monomers

nucleotide

a monomer of nucleic acids; contains a pentose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

phospholipid

a major constituent of membranes of cells; composed of two fatty acids and a phosphate group attached to the glycerol backbone

protein

biological macromolecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids

solvent

a substance capable of dissolving another substance

van der Waals interaction

a weak attraction or interaction between molecules caused by slightly positively charged or slightly negatively charged atoms