WEEK 2 FLASHCARDS — CHEMISTRY OF LIFE

What is matter?

Anything that takes up space and has mass.

What are the three states of matter?

Solid, liquid, gas.

What is an element?

A substance made of only one type of atom.

What are atoms?

The smallest units of elements; building blocks of matter.

What three particles make up an atom?

Protons (+), neutrons (0), electrons (-).

Where are protons and neutrons located?

In the nucleus.

Where are electrons located?

Orbiting around the nucleus.

What is a molecule?

Two or more atoms chemically bonded.

What is a compound?

A molecule made of two or more different elements.

What are ions?

Atoms that have gained or lost electrons.

What is an ionic bond?

A bond formed by the transfer of electrons.

What is a covalent bond?

A bond formed by sharing electrons.

What is a reactant?

Substance entering a chemical reaction.

What is a product?

Substance formed by a chemical reaction.

What is a synthesis reaction?

Two or more substances combine to form a larger molecule.

What is a decomposition reaction?

A larger molecule breaks into smaller parts.

What is an exchange reaction?

Reactants switch partners.

What is the role of enzymes?

Speed up chemical reactions (catalysts).

Why is water essential to life?

It is a solvent, lubricant, and involved in chemical reactions.

What is a solution?

A mixture where one substance (solute) dissolves in another (solvent).

What is a solute?

Substance that gets dissolved.

What is a solvent?

Substance that does the dissolving.

What is pH?

Measure of hydrogen ion concentration.

What pH values are acidic, neutral, and basic?

Acid: < 7, Neutral: 7, Base: > 7.

What is a buffer?

A substance that maintains a stable pH.

What is an inorganic compound?

Does NOT contain carbon (with few exceptions).

What is an organic compound?

Contains carbon and hydrogen; found in living things.

What is the function of carbohydrates?

Main energy source for the body.

What are the three types of carbohydrates?

Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides.

What are the functions of lipids?

Insulation, energy storage, cell membrane formation.

What is a triglyceride?

A lipid used for long-term energy storage.

What are phospholipids used for?

Forming cell membranes.

What are proteins made of?

Amino acids.

What are the functions of proteins?

Structure, enzymes, hormones, transport, antibodies.

What are the two nucleic acids?

DNA and RNA.

What is the function of DNA?

Contains genetic instructions.

What is the function of RNA?

Assists in protein synthesis.

What are the nitrogen bases of DNA?

A, T, C, G (A-T and C-G pairs).

What are the RNA base pairings?

A-U and C-G.

What is ATP?

The energy currency of the cell.

How is ATP formed?

From cellular respiration in mitochondria.