Biochemistry: Atoms, Molecules, Bonding, and Water
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These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to the chemical concepts of biochemistry and the properties of water, facilitating a better understanding of the subject in preparation for the exam.
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19 Terms
Element
A basic substance that cannot be simplified (e.g., Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon).
Atom
The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element.
Molecule
Two or more atoms that are chemically joined together (e.g., H₂, O₂).
Compound
Molecules that contain more than one element (e.g., H₂O, C₆H₁₂O₆).
Isotope
Different atoms of the same element with the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons.
Cation
An ion with a positive charge, formed when an atom loses electrons.
Anion
An ion with a negative charge, formed when an atom gains electrons.
Ionic Bond
A chemical bond formed by the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.
Covalent Bond
A bond formed when atoms share electrons.
Hydrogen Bond
A weak bond formed between a partially positive hydrogen atom and a partially negative atom in polar molecules.
Hydrophilic
Substances that dissolve readily in water; they attract water molecules.
Hydrophobic
Substances that do not dissolve in water; they repel water molecules.
Amphipathic
Molecules that have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) regions.
pH
A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution; reflects the acidity or basicity of that solution.
Buffer
A substance that helps maintain a constant pH by accepting or donating H+ ions.
Specific Heat Capacity
The amount of heat required to change the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1°C; water has a high specific heat.
Cohesion
The attraction between water molecules that causes them to stick together.
Adhesion
The attraction between water molecules and other substances.
Octet Rule
Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable configuration of eight valence electrons.