Bio Chapter 2

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass.

Elements

The 98 naturally occurring substances with unique qualities that combine to create molecules.

Atoms

The smallest units of an element that retain all the properties of that element.

Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons

The subatomic particles that make up an atom.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed through the transfer of electrons between atoms.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed when atoms share electrons.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond that forms between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom.

Van der Waals interactions

Weak attractions between molecules due to transient local partial charges.

Polar Molecule

A molecule that has a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution.

Heat Capacity

The amount of heat required to change a substance's temperature.

Heat of Vaporization

The amount of energy required for the liquid at its boiling point to become a gas.

Cohesion

The property of water molecules to stick to each other, contributing to surface tension.

Adhesion

The property of water molecules to stick to other surfaces.

pH value

A measure of hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.

Buffers

Substances that moderate changes in pH.

Carbon

An element that binds to oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen to form biological molecules.

Hydrocarbon Chains

Chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Functional Groups

Groups of atoms that confer specific properties to molecules.