Chemical Foundations of Life: Atomic Structure, Bonding & Properties of Water

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to atomic structure, chemical bonding, properties of water, and the pH scale, which are fundamental topics from the lecture notes.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with no charge, found in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element's identity.

Atomic Mass

The total mass of an atom, calculated as the sum of protons and neutrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion created by the loss of electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion created by the gain of electrons.

Isotope

Atoms of a single element that possess different numbers of neutrons.

Electronegativity

The measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold electrons.

Covalent Bond

A strong bond formed when one or more pairs of valence electrons are shared between atoms.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed through the attraction of oppositely charged ions.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak electrical attraction between partially positive hydrogen atoms and partially negative atoms like oxygen.

pH Scale

A scale used to measure the acidity or basicity of a solution based on hydrogen ion concentration.

Hydrophilic

Substances that have an affinity for water; water-loving.

Hydrophobic

Substances that repel water; water-fearing.

Cohesion

The tendency of water molecules to stick together due to hydrogen bonding.

Adhesion

The tendency of water molecules to stick to other polar or charged molecules.