Lecture Notes on Atoms, Molecules, and Biological Compounds

This set of flashcards covers fundamental concepts related to atoms, molecules, and biological compounds.

Atom

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

Proton

A positively charged particle located in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

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

Electron

A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus in energy levels.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Radioisotope

An unstable isotope that decays, emitting radiation.

Radioactivity

The energy signal emitted during decay of a radioisotope.

Chemical Bond

An energy relationship between atoms formed by the movement of electrons.

Valence Shell

The outermost shell of an atom that holds valence electrons, involved in bonding.

Octet Rule

Atoms are most stable with a full outer shell, typically 8 electrons.

Valency

The bonding capacity of an atom, determined by the number of electrons needed to fill its valence shell.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrates, composed of a single sugar unit.

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate formed by the linkage of two monosaccharides.

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate composed of long chains of monosaccharide units.

Protein

A macromolecule made from amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

Nucleotide

A monomer of nucleic acids, composed of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphate group.

Hydrogen Bonds

Weak attractions between hydrogen atoms and more electronegative atoms.

Phospholipid

A lipid molecule composed of glycerol, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group.

Triglyceride

A lipid consisting of glycerol and three fatty acids, primarily for energy storage.