Basic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Fundamentals of Biology Flashcards

A detailed set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic chemistry, organic macromolecules, biological hierarchy, life characteristics, and scientific method principles.

Matter

Anything that takes up space and has weight or mass.

Element

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

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom, represented by the whole number above an atom's abbreviation on the periodic table.

Atomic Mass

The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom, representing the weight of the nucleus.

Proton

A subatomic particle located inside the nucleus that carries a positive charge.

Neutron

A subatomic particle located inside the nucleus that carries no charge.

Electron

A subatomic particle located outside the nucleus that carries a negative charge and determines the atom's reactivity.

CHNOPS

An acronym representing the 6 elements found in all living things: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur.

Ionic Bond

A strong chemical bond formed by the attraction between opposite charges when atoms give or receive electrons.

Ion

A charged atom created when an atom gives up or takes in an electron.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when two atoms share one, two, or three pairs of electrons.

Polar Molecule

A molecule that has different electrical charges on different sides due to unequal electron sharing, such as water.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond formed between Hydrogen atoms and other atoms, found between DNA strands, in protein folding, and between water molecules.

Solvent

The major component of a solution (such as water) capable of dissolving other substances by breaking their chemical bonds.

Cohesion

The property of water molecules sticking to other water molecules.

Adhesion

The property of water molecules sticking to other non-water molecules or surfaces.

Hydrophobic

Refers to a substance that repels water ("water fearing").

Hydrophilic

Refers to a substance that is attracted to water ("water loving").

Acid

A substance that releases Hydrogen ions ($H^+$) in water, resulting in more $H^+$ than Hydroxide ions ($OH^-$) and a pH lower than 7.

Base

A substance that releases Hydroxide ions ($OH^-$) or bonds with Hydrogen ions ($H^+$), resulting in less $H^+$ than $OH^-$ and a pH higher than 7.

pH

Potential Hydrogen; a measurement of the $H^+:OH^-$ ratio in a solution, generally measured on a scale from 1 to 14.

Buffer

A specific substance that works on an acid or base to prevent drastic changes by capturing or releasing $H^+$ or $OH^-$ ions.

Inorganic Molecule

A molecule that lacks Carbon atoms and Carbon-Hydrogen bonds, such as Sulfur Dioxide ($SO_2$) or Ozone ($O_3$).

Organic Molecule

A molecule containing chains of Carbon atoms covalently bound to Hydrogen atoms and other Carbon atoms.

Monomer

The smallest unit of a macromolecule that retains its properties, consisting of a Carbon/Hydrogen backbone, a functional group, and a side group (R group).

Polymer

A large molecule composed of many repeated monomer units bonded together.

Dehydration Synthesis

The chemical process of bonding monomers into a polymer by removing water.

Hydrolysis

The chemical process of breaking a polymer into individual monomers by adding water.

Monosaccharide

The single sugar monomer unit of a carbohydrate, such as Glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$), Fructose, or Galactose.

Polysaccharide

A complex carbohydrate polymer composed of many monosaccharides bonded together, such as Cellulose or Starch.

Amino Acid

The monomer of a protein, existing in 20 different types defined by a unique Side Group/R Group.

Polypeptide

A protein polymer consisting of a string of amino acid monomers that must fold into a specific shape to become functional.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, existing in 5 main types: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G), and Uracil (U).

DNA

Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid; a double-stranded nucleic acid polymer that stores genetic instructions.

RNA

Ribose Nucleic Acid; a single-stranded nucleic acid polymer involved in genetic processes.

Saturated Lipid

A lipid in which every Carbon atom in the fatty acid chain is fully bonded to Hydrogen with single bonds, producing a linear, stable structure.

Unsaturated Lipid

A lipid containing double bonds between Carbon atoms in its fatty acid chain, creating a kinked, fluid structure.

Phospholipid

A structural lipid comprising a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails (one saturated and one unsaturated) that makes up cell plasma membranes.

Cell

The smallest functional unit of life, formed by molecules interacting to maintain internal systems.

Tissue

A group of distinct cell types bonded together, communicating and interacting to perform a specific function.

Organ

A discrete body structure composed of several tissue types working together for a shared function.

Organ System

A group of several organ types communicating and working together to perform a shared biological function.

Organism

A discrete living individual formed by multiple organ systems working together.

Population

A group of individual organisms of the same species living in the same area that interbreed and produce viable offspring.

Community

Different species populations interacting with one another within the same geographic area at roughly the same time.

Ecosystem

Multiple interacting communities transforming energy within a shared physical environment.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems on Earth interacting and transforming energy.

Taxonomy

The biological discipline of naming and classifying organisms based on shared characteristics, primarily developed by Carl Linnaeus.

Binomial Name

The official scientific name of an organism consisting of its Genus and species names.

Phylogenetic Tree

An abstract diagram showing the evolutionary relationships and DNA/gene similarities between species.

Homeostasis

The process by which living organisms maintain internal systems within specific physiological limits and thresholds.

Mitosis

The process of eukaryotic cell division used for growth, producing two genetically identical cells.

Binary Fission

The rapid process of prokaryotic cell division, producing two genetically identical cells.

Meiosis

The process of eukaryotic cell division used for reproduction, producing four non-genetically identical gamete cells.

Autotroph

An organism capable of producing its own energy, such as a plant performing photosynthesis.

Heterotroph

An organism that must consume other organisms to obtain energy.

Photosynthesis

The autotrophic process of capturing sunlight energy to convert $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ into glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$) and oxygen ($O_2$).

Aerobic Cell Respiration

The metabolic process of breaking down glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$) and $O_2$ to produce $CO_2$, $H_2O$, and 30 to 40 ATP energy molecules.

Prion

A misfolded protein that damages living systems by causing diseases like Mad Cow Disease, but is non-living because it lacks all characteristics of life.

Virus

A non-living structure consisting of a protein capsid and lipid envelope enclosing DNA or RNA molecules.

Scientific Method

A methodical process of answering questions by using data and evidence through observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and communication.

Hypothesis

A proposed, testable, and falsifiable explanation for an observation, formatted as "If…, then…".

Independent Variable

The specific condition or treatment manipulated by the experimenter in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The measured response or quantitative data collected in an experiment that changes in response to the independent variable.

Controlled Experiment

A study with a large sample size ($n > 30$), randomized group assignments, high repeatability, and quantitative data collection.

Uncontrolled Experiment

A study characterized by a small sample size ($n < 30$) and qualitative descriptive data collection.

Correlation Conclusion

A scientific conclusion stating that a relationship exists between independent and dependent variables without proving direct causality.

Causation Conclusion

A rare scientific conclusion establishing that the independent variable directly caused the observed outcome, supported by a clear mechanism of action.

Scientific Theory

An accepted explanation of natural phenomena backed by extensive experimental evidence and used by the broader scientific community.

Scientific Law

An omnipotent description of natural behavior based on repeated experimentation that is never disproven, such as the Laws of Thermodynamics.