Introductory Biology and Basic Chemistry Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering introductory biology, scientific processes, atomic structure, chemical bonding, organic chemistry, and the unique properties of water based on the lecture material.

Biology

The study of life and a branch of science.

Characteristics of Life

The seven properties shared by living organisms: order/organization, regulation of the internal environment, energy utilization/processing, growth and development, reproduction of similar offspring, response to the environment, and evolutionary adaptation.

Science

A process (or activity) and a body of knowledge gathered from that process, which are interrelated.

Discovery Science

A type of science that describes nature based on observations, leading to generalizations.

Hypothesis-Driven Science

A five-step scientific process used to explain observations through data analysis and experimental testing.

Steps of Hypothesis-Driven Science

The five sequential steps of testing scientific explanations: 1. Observe, 2. Question, 3. Hypothesize, 4. Predict, and 5. Test.

Data

Recorded observations, measurements, or items of information gathered during research.

Qualitative Data

Data consisting of descriptive observations rather than numerical measurements.

Quantitative Data

Data consisting of recorded numerical measurements.

Hypothesis

A tentative answer to a well-framed question that leads to predictions that can be tested by observation or experimentation.

Theory

A unifying theme and set of hypotheses supported by a large body of knowledge that connects observations and provides a framework for future work.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

Element

The purest form of matter or a substance that cannot be broken down into a different type of substance.

Four Essential Elements

The main chemical elements focused on in biology: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), and Nitrogen (N).

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that makes up elements, consisting of subatomic particles.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle located in the nucleus of an atom that defines the identity of an element.

Neutron

A uncharged (neutral) subatomic particle located in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle that travels around the nucleus in specific paths and energy levels.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom's nucleus, which determines the definitive identity of an element.

Mass Number

The total number of protons plus neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Isotopes

Two or more atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but differ in their number of neutrons.

Carbon-14

A radioactive isotope of carbon with 6 protons and 8 neutrons, used for radioactive dating of fossils and detecting cancerous cells.

Electron Shells

Average distances away from the nucleus that correspond to an electron's energy level.

Valence Electrons

Electrons located in the outermost shell (valence shell) of an atom that determine its chemical behavior and bonding capacity.

Orbitals

Specific path regions within electron shells where an electron can be found 90% of the time.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of valence electrons.

Polar Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when shared electrons are pulled unequally toward a strongly electronegative atom, resulting in partial positive and negative charges on the molecule.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed when one atom transfers an electron to another atom, creating charged ions that stick together by magnetic attraction.

Reactants

The starting substances in a chemical reaction that undergo bond breaking.

Products

The ending substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Electronegativity

An atom's attraction for shared electrons within a covalent bond.

Hydrogen Bond

An attraction between neighboring polar molecules, occurring when a positively charged hydrogen atom is attracted to an electronegative atom of an adjacent molecule.

Cohesion

The property of water molecules sticking to one another via hydrogen bonds, facilitating the transport of water against gravity in plants.

Moderation of Temperature by Water

Water's resistance to rapid temperature changes caused by hydrogen bonds, which must break before water molecules can move faster and heat up.

Density of Ice

The unique physical property where solid water floats because its molecules lock into a crystal lattice held apart by hydrogen bonds, making ice less dense than liquid water.

Solution

A liquid consisting of a uniform mixture of two or more substances.

Solvent

The dissolving agent of a solution, such as water inside living cells.

Solute

The substance that is dissolved within a solvent.

Van der Waals Interactions

Weak, transient attractions between neighboring molecules caused by temporary localized hot spots of electron concentration within orbitals.

Hydronium Ion ($\text{H}^+$)

A positively charged ion formed when a hydrogen atom loses its electron and transfers to a neighboring water molecule.

Hydroxide Ion ($\text{OH}^-$)

A negatively charged ion ($\text{OH}^-$) created when a water molecule loses a hydrogen ion.

Acid

A substance that increases the hydronium/hydrogen ion concentration of a solution, resulting in a pH value less than 7.

Base

A substance that reduces the hydronium/hydrogen ion concentration of a solution, resulting in a pH value greater than 7.

Buffer

A chemical substance that minimizes changes in hydronium and hydroxide ion concentrations by accepting or donating excess ions to maintain cellular pH (around 7.4).

Hydrocarbons

Organic molecules composed exclusively of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Monomers

Small molecular building block units that can combine to form polymers.

Polymers

Large biological macromolecules constructed by linking repeating monomer subunits together.