Chapter 2: Structure of Atoms and Chemical Properties

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms and concepts from Chapter 2 on the structure of atoms and chemical properties.

Atom

The basic unit of a chemical element, consisting of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, with electrons that float around the nucleus.

Proton

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

Neutron

A neutrally charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

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

Ionic bond

A chemical bond formed through the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Covalent bond

A type of bond formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.

Hydrogen bond

A weak bond formed between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom.

Molecular weight

The weight of a molecule calculated as the sum of the atomic weights of its constituent atoms.

Mole

A unit of measurement used in chemistry to express amounts of a chemical substance.

Chemical reaction

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

Acid

A substance that donates protons (H+) in a solution and has a pH less than 7.

Base

A substance that accepts protons (H+) in a solution and has a pH greater than 7.

Salt

An ionic compound formed from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base.

pH

A scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution.

Organic compounds

Compounds that contain carbon atoms, typically organized in chains or rings.

Inorganic compounds

Compounds that do not primarily consist of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds.

Functional group

A specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for a characteristic of that compound.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as a primary energy source for living organisms.

Lipids

A group of biological molecules that include simple lipids, complex lipids, and steroids.

Amino acids

The building blocks of proteins that link together to form polypeptide chains.

Proteins

Large biomolecules made of one or more long chains of amino acid residues.

Nucleic acids

Biopolymers essential for all known forms of life, made up of nucleotide building blocks.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

A nucleoside triphosphate that functions as the energy currency of the cell.

Polypeptide chains

Chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds to form proteins.

3D shape

The three-dimensional structure that polypeptide chains take on to become functional proteins.

Simple lipids

Lipids that consist of fatty acids and glycerol, commonly known as fats.

Complex lipids

Lipids that have additional elements, such as phosphorus or sugars, in their molecular structure.

Steroids

A class of lipids characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings.

Building blocks of life

The fundamental components, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, necessary for the formation and function of living organisms.