The Chemical Level of Organization

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to the chemical level of organization, including definitions of important terms and processes.

Chemistry

The science of change.

Atom

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

Molecule

A group of atoms bonded together, forming the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound.

Cell

The smallest unit of life.

Tissue

A group of cells that work together to perform a specific function.

Organ

A structure composed of two or more different tissue types working together.

Organ system

A group of organs that work together to perform complex functions.

Organism

An individual living entity that can react to stimuli, reproduce, and maintain homeostasis.

Proton

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

Neutron

An electrically neutral subatomic particle located in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

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

Ionic bond

A chemical bond formed between two ions with opposite charges.

Covalent bond

A bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Hydrogen bond

A weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom in another.

Saturated fatty acid

A fatty acid with no double bonds between carbon atoms, leading to a straight structure.

Unsaturated fatty acid

A fatty acid with one or more double bonds in the carbon chain, creating a kink.

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar molecule.

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate composed of two monosaccharides.

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate formed by the linkage of several monosaccharides.

pH

A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.

Acid

A substance that releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.

Base

A substance that accepts hydrogen ions or releases hydroxide ions in solution.

Buffer

A solution that resists changes in pH when acids or bases are added.

Aqueous solution

A solution in which water is the solvent.

Electrolyte

Soluble inorganic substances whose ions conduct electrical current.

Hydrophilic

Substances that readily interact with water.

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not interact well with water.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

Atomic mass

The actual mass of an atom, generally measured in atomic mass units (amu).

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Dehydration synthesis

A reaction in which water is removed to form a new bond.

Hydrolysis

The chemical process of breaking down a compound by adding water.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions within the body.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

A high-energy molecule responsible for storing and transferring energy within cells.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of nucleic acids, consisting of a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a molecule involved in protein synthesis and gene expression.

Water

A polar molecule vital for life, acting as a solvent and participating in many metabolic processes.

Functional group

A specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for certain characteristics of that molecule.

High-energy compounds

Molecules that contain high-energy bonds and can release energy upon breaking these bonds.