Chemistry Notes: Matter, Ions, Bonding, Water, Biomolecules, and Energy

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms and definitions from matter, chemical bonding, water properties, pH, and biomolecules presented in the notes.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

Mass

A measure of the amount of matter in a substance.

Solid

A form of matter with a definite shape and volume (e.g., bone).

Liquid

A form of matter with a definite volume but takes the shape of its container (e.g., blood).

Gas

A form of matter with no definite shape or volume (e.g., oxygen).

Atom

The smallest unit of an element that exhibits its chemical properties.

Element

A substance composed of only one type of atom; 92 naturally occurring elements make up matter.

Periodic Table

A systematic arrangement of elements based on atomic number and properties.

Ion

An atom with a positive or negative charge produced by loss or gain of electrons.

Cation

An ion with a positive charge.

Anion

An ion with a negative charge.

Polyatomic Ion

An ion made up of more than one atom that carries a net charge.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed by electrostatic attraction between positively and negatively charged ions.

Ionic Compound

A compound (salts) composed of cations and anions held together by ionic bonds.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed when atoms share electrons.

Molecule

Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.

Molecular Compound

A compound composed of molecules formed by covalent bonds.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond where electrons are shared equally between atoms.

Polar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond where electrons are shared unequally, creating partial charges.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak attraction between a partially positive hydrogen and a partially negative atom, important in water and biomolecules.

Intermolecular Attractions

Weak attractions between molecules that influence shape and properties of compounds.

Water

A polar molecule central to life; two hydrogens bonded to one oxygen.

Cohesion

Attraction between water molecules due to hydrogen bonding.

Surface Tension

Inward pulling of cohesive forces at the surface of a liquid.

Adhesion

Attraction between water molecules and a substance other than water.

High Specific Heat

Water’s ability to absorb or release large amounts of heat with little change in temperature.

Heat of Vaporization

Energy required to convert a substance from liquid to gas; high for water due to hydrogen bonding.

Water as Universal Solvent

Water dissolves many substances, earning its title as the body’s solvent.

Acid

A substance that donates H+ (proton) in solution; increases H+ concentration.

Base

A substance that accepts H+ in solution; decreases free H+ concentration.

pH

A measure of hydrogen ion concentration in a solution; 0–14 scale.

Buffers

Substances that resist pH changes by absorbing H+ or donating H+.

Neutralization

Process of returning an acidic or basic solution to pH ~7.

Macromolecules

Large organic molecules essential for life; four classes: lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, proteins.

Lipids

Biomolecules that are not polymers; include fats, membranes, hormones; hydrophobic or amphipathic in phospholipids.

Triglycerides

Most common lipid; long-term energy storage formed from glycerol and three fatty acids.

Phospholipids

Amphipathic lipids forming cell membranes with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.

Steroids

Lipids with four fused carbon rings; cholesterol is a major example.

Eicosanoids

20-carbon fatty-acid-derived signaling molecules involved in inflammation and signaling.

Saturated Fats

Fats with no double bonds; typically solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fats

Fats with one or more double bonds; typically liquid at room temperature.

Trans Fats

Hydrogenated fats with trans double bonds; associated with higher health risks.

Carbohydrates

Biomolecules with formula (CH2O)n; main energy source; includes sugars and starches.

Monosaccharide

Simple sugar monomer (e.g., glucose).

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides joined together (e.g., sucrose).

Polysaccharide

Long chains of monosaccharides (e.g., glycogen, starch, cellulose).

Glucose

Six-carbon sugar; primary energy source for cells; tightly regulated.

Glycogen

Storage form of glucose in liver and muscle; formed by glycogenesis.

Glycogenesis

Formation of glycogen from glucose in liver and muscle.

Glycogenolysis

Breakdown of glycogen to glucose in the liver.

Gluconeogenesis

Formation of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources.

Nucleic Acids

Store and transmit genetic information; two classes: DNA and RNA.

DNA

Double-stranded nucleic acid with deoxyribose, A, G, C, T; located in nucleus/mitochondria; thymine replaces uracil.

RNA

Single-stranded nucleic acid with ribose, A, G, C, U; located in nucleus and cytoplasm; uracil replaces thymine.

Nucleotide

Monomer of nucleic acids; linked by phosphodiester bonds.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; energy currency of the cell; energy stored in the last two phosphate bonds.

Proteins

Biomolecules that function as enzymes, transporters, structural components, and more.

Amino Acids

Building blocks of proteins (not explicitly listed in notes, but implied as protein components).

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction that forms a bond and releases water, used in triglyceride formation and polymer creation.

Electronegativity

Attraction of an atom for electrons in a covalent bond; determines bond polarity.

Oxidation State (octet rule context)

Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve an octet; drives bond formation.