Properties of Matter and Biochemistry Flashcards

A comprehensive vocabulary review set covering the properties of matter, physical and chemical changes, atomic structures, periodic table concepts, chemical bonds, and biochemical components.

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has weight.

Chemistry

The scientific study of matter, the physical and chemical changes affecting matter, and the energy changes that accompany those processes.

Organic Chemistry

The scientific study dealing with all matter that is now living or was alive at one time, containing carbon, such as plants and animals.

Inorganic Chemistry

The scientific study of all matter that is not alive, has never been alive, and does not contain carbon, such as rocks, water, and minerals.

Solid

A basic form of matter with definite weight, volume, and shape.

Liquid

A basic form of matter with definite weight and volume but no definite shape.

Gas

A basic form of matter with definite weight but indefinite volume and shape.

Physical Change

A change in the physical characteristics of a substance without creating a new substance.

Chemical Change

A change in a substance that creates a new substance with chemical characteristics different from the original substance.

Vapor

The gas state of a liquid that has been through a physical change.

Elements

Basic, pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

Periodic Law

The unifying concept used to organize elements with similar properties into groups in a table of elements.

Periodic Table of Chemical Elements

A chart or map displaying groups of related elements, displaying 118 known elements.

Chemical Symbols

Scientific shorthand or nicknames assigned to each element on the periodic table.

Atomic Number

A number indicating how many protons are in a single atom of a particular element, serving as the primary basis for organization on the periodic table.

COHNS

An acronym representing the five major elements involved in the formation of skin, hair, and nails: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur.

Atom

The smallest complete unit of an element.

Nucleus

The dense core at the center of an atom formed by tightly packed protons and neutrons.

Protons

Subatomic particles with a positive electrical charge (+) located in the nucleus whose number identifies the type of atom.

Neutrons

Subatomic particles with no electrical charge (neutral) found in the nucleus of every atom except simple hydrogen.

Electrons

Subatomic particles with a negative electrical charge (-) moving on orbiting paths or shells around the nucleus.

Photon

A packet of energy emitted when an electron in a high orbit returns to a normal orbit.

Stable Atom

An atom whose outer shell is not missing any electrons, making it electrically neutral.

Unstable Atom

An atom whose outer shell is missing electrons, driving it to seek other atoms with which it can share electrons.

Free Radicals

Unstable atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons that can cause oxidative damage to collagen scaffolding.

Molecule

Two or more atoms joined together by a chemical bond.

Elemental Molecule

A molecule formed when two or more atoms of the same element combine, such as $O_2$.

Compound

A molecule formed by chemically uniting two or more different elements, resulting in unique chemical and physical characteristics.

Free Electron

An electron in the outermost orbit of an atom that is easily moved from its orbit.

Pure Substance

Matter made of only one type of atom or molecule, including all elements and chemical compounds.

Mixture

A material made up of two or more different substances that are physically combined rather than chemically united.

Saponification

A chemical reaction occurring during electrical facials in which sebum changes into a soap.

Oxidation

A chemical process in which a substance loses an electron and oxygen is acquired.

Reduction

A chemical process in which a substance gains an electron and oxygen is released.

Ions

Charged atoms involved in a chemical reaction that attract or repel each other based on their positive or negative charges.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond holding positive and negative ions together.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when atoms share outer orbit electrons.

Biochemistry

The branch of science dealing with chemical reactions and life processes occurring within a living organism.

Proteins

Biochemical compounds that serve as the primary material the body uses to construct and renew itself.

Enzymes

Proteins that dissolve and break down large molecules into smaller ones and act as catalysts in biochemical reactions.

Amino Acids

Biochemical compounds consisting of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen that join together in chains to form proteins.

Peptide Bond

A chemical bond uniting two amino acid groups.

Polypeptide Chain

Thousands of amino acids connected lengthwise to form a chain.

Monomers

Basic building-block molecules that connect with each other to form larger, more complex compounds.

Polymers

Groups of monomers bonded together to create larger, more complex compounds.

Carbohydrates

Biochemical compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen arranged in a chain, used by the body to store energy and play a key role in metabolism.

Saccharide

A simple unit of a carbohydrate.

Monosaccharide

A single saccharide unit, such as glucose.

Disaccharide

Two saccharides linked together, such as sucrose.

Polysaccharide

Many saccharides linked together to form larger, complex molecules like starch.

Lipids

Biochemical compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (such as triglycerides, fats, and steroids) that fill intercellular spaces in skin as intercellular cement.