Chemistry of Life, Unit 2 Review

Flashcards focusing on key vocabulary and concepts in biochemistry as covered in the lecture.

Biochemistry

The area of chemistry that deals with living organisms and life processes.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Element

The simplest form of a substance, abbreviated with a chemical symbol.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

Radioactive Isotope

Unstable isotopes that undergo radioactive decay and emit nuclear particles and radiation.

Compound

Atoms of two or more elements joined together.

Ionic Bonding

Atoms joined based on attraction between negatively and positively charged atoms (ions).

Covalent Bonding

Atoms joined together because they share electrons to achieve stability.

Hydrogen Bonding

Atoms join based on a weak attraction between Hydrogen and a Nitrogen or Oxygen atom.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that causes many reactions in the body to occur without being changed by the reaction.

Inorganic Compounds

Compounds that contain few or no carbon atoms and are necessary for survival.

Organic Compounds

Compounds that contain carbon, making up living organisms.

pH Scale

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, ranges from 0-14.

Acidosis

A condition that occurs when blood pH falls below 7.35.

Alkalosis

A condition that occurs when blood pH rises above 7.45.

Carbohydrates

Sugars and starches, a quick source of food energy for the cell.

Proteins

Large macromolecules composed of amino acids, serving various functions in the body.

Lipids

A diverse group of organic compounds that are insoluble in water.

Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules that store genetic information and play a role in protein synthesis.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

A high-energy molecule used as a source of energy in cellular processes.

Catabolism

Metabolic processes that break down molecules, releasing energy.

Anabolism

Metabolic processes that build larger molecules from smaller units, requiring energy.