bio

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down by ordinary chemical reactions.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that is unique to a particular element.

Electron

A negatively charged particle that interacts with other atoms to form bonds and capture/release energy.

Neutron

A particle with no charge found in the nucleus of an atom.

Proton

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

Ion

An atom that is electrically charged due to the gain or loss of electrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Chemical Bond

An attraction between atoms, ions, or molecules that enables the formation of chemical compounds.

Covalent Bond

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

Polar Covalent Bond

A bond where atoms share electrons unequally.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A bond where atoms share electrons equally.

Ionic Bond

An attraction between positive and negative ions.

Hydrogen Bond

An attraction between polar molecules, represented with a dotted line.

Water (H2O)

A polar molecule consisting of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.

Cohesion

The tendency of water molecules to stick to each other, creating surface tension.

Adhesion

The tendency of water to stick to other objects, causing hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions.

Capillary Action

The ability of water to rise in narrow tubes due to cohesion and adhesion.

Universal Solvent

Water's ability to dissolve many substances, making it essential for transporting nutrients.

High Heat Capacity

Water's resistance to temperature changes due to hydrogen bonding.

Standard Deviation

A measure of variation between sample numbers and the mean.

Accuracy

A measure of how close a value is to the true value.

Precision

A measure of how close a value is to other values or samples.

Macromolecules

Large molecules in living cells made by joining smaller molecules (monomers).

Monomers

Small molecules that join together to form polymers (macromolecules).

Organic Compounds

Compounds that contain carbon with hydrogen attached.

Inorganic Compounds

Compounds that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds.

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of one sugar unit.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates made of many monosaccharides joined together.

Lipids

Organic molecules made primarily of carbon and hydrogen, with very little oxygen.

Saturated Fats

Fats with only single bonds between carbon atoms, solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fats

Fats with double or triple bonds between carbon atoms, liquid at room temperature.

Steroids

Lipids characterized by a four-ring structure, often derived from cholesterol.