Chemistry of Life

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms from the chemistry of life lecture.

Atom

The smallest structural unit of matter.

Molecule

A group of two or more atoms bonded together.

Mass

The amount of substance in a body which is constant regardless of its location.

Weight

The force exerted by gravity on that mass.

Solid

A state of matter with fixed shape and volume.

Liquid

A state of matter with fixed volume but no fixed shape.

Gas

A state of matter with neither fixed shape nor volume.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed between ions with opposite charges.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed when atoms share electrons.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond between a hydrogen atom and another atom.

Mixture

A physical combination of two or more substances.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more different elements are chemically bonded together.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Buffer

A solution that resists changes in pH when an acid or base is added.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur in the body.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions.

Saturated Fat

A type of fat with no double bonds between carbon atoms, typically solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fat

A type of fat with one or more double bonds between carbon atoms, typically liquid at room temperature.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, involved in protein synthesis and the transmission of genetic information.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The energy currency of the cell, used to store and transfer energy.

pH Scale

A measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution.

Homeostasis

The ability of the body to maintain a stable internal environment.

Diffusion

The process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.

Facilitated Diffusion

A process of passive transport that uses protein channels to move molecules across the membrane.

Active Transport

The movement of substances against their concentration gradient, requiring energy.