MACROS

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass, composed of elements.

Atom

Building blocks of all matter.

Element

Pure substances composed of atoms; 96% of the body is made up of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen (CHON).

Nucleus

The core of an atom.

Proton

Large, positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

Large, neutral particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron cloud

Region surrounding the nucleus where electrons reside, negatively charged.

Atomic number

The number of protons in an atom, which serves as an identification tag for the element.

Mass number

Total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Isotope

Variants of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons, resulting in a higher mass.

Valence shell electron

Electrons located in the outermost shell/orbits of an atom that allow bonds to form.

Octet Rule

The principle that atoms tend to form bonds by achieving eight electrons in their valence shell.

Molecule

A structure formed from 2 or more atoms bound together (e.g., O2, H2O).

Compound

A type of molecule composed of atoms from different elements (e.g., NaCl).

Ionic Bonds

Chemical bonds involving electron transfer to form ions; cations are positively charged, while anions are negatively charged.

Covalent Bonds

Chemical bonds formed by sharing electrons, resulting in either non-polar or polar covalent bonds.

Hydrogen Bonds

Attractive forces between molecules where a slight negative end is attracted to a slight positive end.

Synthesis

A type of chemical reaction in which substances are combined to create something new (anabolism).

Decomposition

A type of chemical reaction in which substances are broken down into simpler components (catabolism).

Redox reactions

Chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons; oxidation is the loss of electrons, and reduction is the gain of electrons.

Reaction rate

The speed at which a chemical reaction occurs, influenced by factors such as temperature and concentration.

Inorganic molecules

Substances like water and salts that are crucial for survival and biological functions.

pH

A measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions [H+] in a solution.

Acidosis

A condition in which blood pH is below 7.35, indicating high levels of hydrogen ions.

Alkalosis

A condition in which blood pH is above 7.45, indicating low levels of hydrogen ions.

Buffer

Chemicals that help maintain pH stability and resist fluctuations.

Polymerization

The process of combining many units (monomers) to form long chains or networks (polymers).

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules that serve as energy sources and provide some structural support in cells.

Lipids

A diverse group of organic compounds, including triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids, and eicosanoids.

Proteins

Molecules composed of amino acids that perform various functions such as catalysis, transport, defense, and structure.

Nucleic Acids

Biomolecules like DNA and RNA made of nucleotides that store and transfer genetic information.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The primary energy carrier in cells, composed of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups.