The Chemistry of Life - Practice Flashcards (Video Notes)

A comprehensive set of Q&A flashcards covering basic chemistry concepts for life, including matter, elements, atomic structure, bonds, organic/inorganic compounds, water, nomenclature, and biomolecules.

What is chemistry?

The study of the composition, properties and interactions of matter; the science that deals with the structure and interactions of matter.

What are the three states of matter and a key feature of each?

Solids have a definite shape and volume; liquids have a definite volume but take the shape of their container; gases have neither definite shape nor definite volume.

What is a chemical element?

A pure substance that cannot be broken down by chemical reactions into simpler substances.

Which elements are major elements comprising about 96% of body mass?

Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen.

What are trace elements and roughly what percentage of body mass do they comprise?

Elements present in tiny amounts (about 0.4%) that have important functions; examples include Aluminium, Boron, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Fluorine, Iodine, Manganese, Molybdenum, Selenium, Silicon, Tin, Vanadium, and Zinc.

Who organized the periodic table and how is it organized?

Dmitri Mendeleev organized elements into a chart (periodic table) arranged by atomic number and properties.

What are the two main regions of an atom and what do they contain?

The nucleus, containing protons and neutrons, and the outer region where electrons orbit.

What is the atomic number?

The number of protons in the nucleus; in a neutral atom it equals the number of electrons.

What is the mass number?

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

What are isotopes?

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

What are radioisotopes and a safety note about them?

Unstable isotopes that emit energy or particles; useful in medicine and dating; excessive exposure can cause radiation sickness and DNA mutations.

What is an ionic bond?

A bond formed by electrical attraction between oppositely charged ions; cations are positive (lost electrons) and anions are negative (gained electrons).

What is a covalent bond?

Two atoms share electrons; can be nonpolar or polar.

What is a hydrogen bond?

A weak attraction between oppositely charged parts of molecules, common between water and important in DNA stability.

What is a molecule?

Two or more chemically bonded atoms.

What is a compound?

A substance that consists of atoms of two or more different elements.

How do organic and inorganic compounds differ in general terms?

Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen (often forming large macromolecules); inorganic compounds typically lack carbon or have simpler structures.

What makes water polar?

Unequal sharing of electrons, giving hydrogen a partial positive charge and oxygen a partial negative charge.

What is organic chemistry?

The study of carbon-containing compounds, typically produced by living organisms; includes carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Why is carbon essential in biology?

Carbon can form four bonds, enabling chains and rings to build large, diverse macromolecules.

What are monomers and polymers?

Monomers are single subunits; polymers are large molecules formed by linking monomers.

What is dehydration synthesis (condensation)?

A reaction where monomers are joined to form polymers with loss of water.

What is hydrolysis?

A reaction where polymers are broken down into monomers by adding water.

What is a functional group?

A group of atoms covalently attached to carbon that influences properties and reactions of organic molecules.

Name some major functional groups listed in the notes.

Hydroxyl (-OH), Methyl (-CH3), Carbonyl (C=O), Carboxyl (-COOH), Amino (-NH2), Phosphate (-PO4^2-), Sulfhydryl (-SH).

What are the major biological macromolecules and their monomers?

Carbohydrates—monosaccharides; Lipids—glycerol and fatty acids; Proteins—amino acids; Nucleic acids—nucleotides.

What are the DNA nucleobases?

Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, Thymine.

What are the RNA nucleobases?

Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, Uracil.

What bond links nucleotides in nucleic acids?

Phosphodiester bonds.

What is the basic approach to naming hydrocarbons (IUPAC) in the notes?

Identify the longest carbon chain, add prefixes for substituents with positions, number to give the lowest locants, and arrange substituents alphabetically.

What are the steps for substituent naming and chain numbering?

Number the chain to give the lowest possible numbers to substituents; use commas between numbers and hyphens between numbers and prefixes; arrange substituents alphabetically.

What does metabolism refer to?

All chemical reactions that occur in the body.

What are the main types of chemical reactions listed?

Synthesis (anabolism), Decomposition (catabolism), Exchange, and Reversible reactions.

What is the difference between exergonic and endergonic reactions?

Exergonic reactions release energy; endergonic reactions absorb energy.

What are ions and how do cations and anions form?

Ions are atoms that gain or lose electrons; cations form when electrons are lost (positive), anions form when electrons are gained (negative).

How do ionic and covalent bonds differ in bonding and conductivity?

Ionic bonds involve electron transfer and form charged ions; covalent bonds involve sharing electrons and generally do not conduct electricity in solid form.

How do organic and inorganic compounds generally differ in water solubility and bonding?

Organic compounds are usually soluble in organic solvents with covalent bonds; inorganic compounds are often soluble in water with ionic bonds.

What makes water’s polarity and hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties important?

Polarity causes water's high cohesion and solvent abilities; hydrophilic means water-loving, hydrophobic means water-fearing.

What is phosphodiester bonding and its role?

Phosphodiester bonds connect nucleotides in a sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA and RNA.