Biology A1 - Terms

Intramolecular bonding

The forces that hold together the atoms within a molecule, such as covalent and ionic bonds.

Intermolecular bonding

The forces that occur between molecules, affecting physical properties like boiling and melting points, including hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces.

Adhesion

The molecular attraction between unlike substances, such as water and a surface, which helps to hold substances together or allows liquids to spread on surfaces.

Cohesion

The attractive force between molecules of the same substance, which causes them to stick together, such as water molecules forming hydrogen bonds.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution, commonly liquids like water.

Solute

A substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution, such as salt in water.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture formed when a solute is dissolved in a solvent, such as sugar in water.

Electronegativity

The tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond, influencing bond polarity.

Hydrogen bonding

A type of attractive interaction between a hydrogen atom bonded to a highly electronegative atom and another electronegative atom, crucial for the properties of water and biological molecules.

Specific heat capacity

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Universal solvent

A substance that can dissolve a wide variety of solutes, most commonly water, which is known as the universal solvent due to its ability to dissolve more substances than any other liquid.

Transpiration

The process by which water vapor is released from the leaves of plants into the atmosphere, playing a crucial role in the water cycle.

Capillary action

The ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of external forces, often observed in plants as water moves through their xylem.

Surface tension

The cohesive force at the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force, often seen when small objects float on water.

Turgor pressure

The pressure exerted by fluid in the central vacuole of plant cells, maintaining cell rigidity and structure.

Metabolism

The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms that convert food into energy and building blocks for growth.

Goldilocks zone

The habitable zone around a star where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface.

Buoyancy

The ability of an object to float in a fluid, determined by the object's density relative to the fluid's density.

Viscosity

A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, which affects how easily it pours or spreads.

Thermal conductivity

The measure of a material's ability to conduct heat, indicating how well it transfers thermal energy.

Condensation

The elimination of water molecules in a reaction

Hydrolysis

When water is added to break chemical bonds in molecules, resulting in the formation of new substances

Polymer

A large molecule made up of large repeating monomers that are covalently bonded together, forming long chains