Chemistry of Life and Properties of Water Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the basics of chemistry, atomic structure, periodic table organization, chemical bonding, water properties, solutions, and key biological macromolecules from the lecture notes.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space, composed of atoms.

Atom

The smallest part of an element that still has the properties of that element.

Six Elements Necessary for Life

Carbon ($C$), Hydrogen ($H$), Oxygen ($O$), Nitrogen ($N$), Phosphorus ($P$), and Sulfur ($S$).

Cell

The most basic unit of life.

Protons

Positively charged subatomic particles ($p^+$) located in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutrons

Neutrally charged subatomic particles ($n^0$) located in the nucleus of an atom.

Electrons

Negatively charged subatomic particles ($e^-$) located in the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus.

Atomic Number

The number of protons ($p^+$) in an atom, which identifies an atom and equals the number of electrons ($e^-$) in a neutral atom.

Average Atomic Mass

The sum of the protons ($p^+$) and neutrons ($n^0$) in the most common isotope of an element.

Isotope

Two or more forms of the same element with the same number of protons ($p^+$) but different numbers of neutrons ($n^0$).

Valence Electrons

The electrons located in the outermost energy level or shell of an atom.

Groups

Columns on the Periodic Table that indicate how many valence electrons an atom has.

Periods

Rows on the Periodic Table that indicate how many energy levels an atom has.

Compound

A substance made of two or more atoms of different elements bonded together (such as $NaCl$ or $H_2O$).

Molecule

Two or more atoms bonded together (such as $O_2$, $CO_2$, or $H_2O$).

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when nonmetallic atoms share electrons.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed when electrons are transferred from a metal to a nonmetal.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed when an atom loses an electron.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains an electron.

Polar Molecule

A molecule with an unequal distribution of charges, where one side is more positive and one side is more negative, allowing it to dissolve in water.

Nonpolar Molecule

A molecule with no separation of charge (no positive or negative poles formed), which does not dissolve in water.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak attraction between a partially positive hydrogen atom of one water molecule and a partially negative oxygen atom of a different water molecule.

Cohesion

The attraction between molecules of the same substance (such as water sticking to water), which causes high surface tension.

Surface Tension

A measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface of a liquid and resist an external force.

Adhesion

The type of attraction that occurs between two different molecules, forming stronger bonds than cohesion (seen in meniscus formation and capillary action).

High Specific Heat

The property of water requiring it to absorb more heat energy to increase overall temperature compared to other compounds, helping to regulate organism and Earth temperatures.

Universal Solvent

A title given to water because its polarity allows it to dissolve more substances than any other liquid.

Solution

A uniform mixture of two or more substances.

Solute

The substance that gets dissolved in a solution.

Solvent

The substance that does the dissolving in a solution.

Hydrophilic

Having an affinity for water ('water loving'); polar substances that usually dissolve easily in water.

Hydrophobic

Not having an affinity for water ('water fearing'); nonpolar substances that do not dissolve easily in water.

Nucleic Acids

Informational macromolecules (DNA and RNA) that store, transmit, and express genetic information, containing instructions for making proteins.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, composed of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen-containing base.

Protein Structure Levels

The four structural levels of proteins—Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary—where the folded shape determines protein function.