Basic Chemistry Flashcards

These flashcards cover the fundamental concepts of chemistry and biochemistry from the Chapter 2 lecture notes, including matter, energy, atomic structure, chemical bonding, and organic molecules.

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass; the "stuff" of the universe.

Energy

The ability to do work or to put matter into motion; it has no mass and does not take up space.

Kinetic energy

Energy that is actually doing work, such as moving objects or the constant movement of atoms.

Potential energy

Energy that is inactive or stored, such as in the batteries of an unused toy.

Chemical energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical substances, which is released when bonds are broken.

Electrical energy

Energy resulting from the movement of charged particles, such as electrons in wiring or ions moving across cell membranes.

Mechanical energy

Energy directly involved in moving matter, such as muscles pulling on bones to pedal a bicycle.

Radiant energy

Energy that travels in waves of the electromagnetic spectrum, including X rays, infrared radiation, visible light, radio, and ultraviolet waves.

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

The high-energy chemical compound that traps chemical energy from food and provides the form of energy that all body cells can use.

Element

A unique substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical methods, with 118 identified to date.

Atoms

The building blocks of elements; the smallest particle of an element that still retains that element's properties.

Atomic symbol

A one- or two-letter chemical shorthand used to designate each element, such as $C$ for carbon or $Ca$ for calcium.

Protons ($p^+$)

Heavy subatomic particles located in the atomic nucleus with a positive charge and a mass of $1\,amu$.

Neutrons ($n^0$)

Heavy subatomic particles located in the atomic nucleus that are uncharged (neutral) and have a mass of $1\,amu$.

Electrons ($e^-$)

Tiny subatomic particles bearing a negative charge that orbit the nucleus; their mass is so small it is designated as $0\,amu$.

Atomic number

A number equal to the number of protons an atom contains; it is unique for each element.

Atomic mass number

The sum of the masses of all the protons and neutrons contained in the nucleus of an atom.

Isotopes

Structural variations of an element's atoms that have the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons.

Radioisotopes

Heavier, unstable isotopes that release energy through radioactivity to become more stable.

Atomic weight

The average mass of an element that is approximately equal to the mass number of its most abundant isotope.

Molecule

The smallest particle resulting from the chemical combination of two or more atoms.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more different atoms bind together, exhibiting properties different from its constituent atoms.

Valence shell

The outermost electron shell of an atom, which determines its chemical bonding behavior.

Rule of eights

The principle that atoms interact to reach a stable state of having eight electrons in their valence shell.

Ionic bonds

Bonds formed when electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another, resulting in charged particles called ions.

Anions

Negatively charged ions produced when an atom gains an electron.

Cations

Positively charged ions produced when an atom loses an electron.

Covalent bonds

Bonds formed when atoms share valence electrons to fill their outermost shells at least part of the time.

Nonpolar covalent molecules

Molecules in which electrons are shared equally between the atoms.

Polar molecule

A molecule with two charged poles created by the unequal sharing of electron pairs, such as a water molecule ($H_2O$).

Hydrogen bonds

Extremely weak bonds formed when a hydrogen atom is attracted to another electron-hungry atom, creating a "bridge" between them.

Synthesis reactions

Chemical reactions where two or more atoms or molecules combine to form a larger, more complex molecule ($A + B \rightarrow AB$).

Decomposition reactions

Chemical reactions where a molecule is broken down into smaller molecules, atoms, or ions ($AB \rightarrow A + B$).

Exchange reactions

Reactions involving both synthesis and decomposition where parts of molecules are switched, such as the reaction between ATP and glucose.

Inorganic compounds

Compounds that lack carbon and tend to be small, simple molecules, such as water, salts, and many acids and bases.

Organic compounds

Carbon-containing compounds, typically large covalent molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking down biological molecules by adding water molecules to their bonds.

Dehydration synthesis

The process of joining monomers to form polymers by removing a water molecule at the site of bond formation.

Electrolytes

Substances that ionize and dissociate in water, enabling them to conduct an electrical current.

Acids

Substances that can release hydrogen ions ($H^+$) in detectable amounts; also known as proton donors.

Bases

Substances that act as proton ($H^+$) acceptors; hydroxides are common inorganic examples.

Neutralization reaction

An exchange reaction where an acid and a base interact to form water and a salt.

pH scale

A measurement based on the number of protons in solution, ranging from $0$ to $14$; a pH of $7$ is neutral.

Buffers

Chemicals present in body fluids that act to maintain pH stability by taking up excess hydrogen or hydroxide ions.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, including sugars and starches.

Monosaccharides

The structural units or building blocks of carbohydrates, also referred to as simple sugars.

Triglycerides

Neutral fats composed of three fatty acid chains and a single glycerol molecule; the body's most concentrated source of stored energy.

Phospholipids

Lipids with two fatty acid chains and a phosphorus-containing group; they have hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.

Steroids

Flat lipid molecules formed of four interlocking carbon rings, with cholesterol being the most important example.

Amino acids

The building blocks of proteins, each featuring an amine group, an acid group, and a unique R-group.

Enzymes

Functional proteins that act as biological catalysts, increasing the rate of chemical reactions without being changed.

Nucleotides

The building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a nitrogen-containing base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

The double-stranded genetic material found in the cell nucleus that provides instructions for building every protein.

RNA (ribonucleic acid)

Single-stranded nucleic acids that carry out the orders for protein synthesis issued by DNA.