Chemistry of Life – Atoms, Bonds and Water

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to the chemistry of life, including atoms, bonds, water properties, and essential functional groups.

Atom

The smallest particle that retains the properties of an element.

Essential elements

Atoms that are fundamental for life, such as carbon and oxygen.

Chemical bonding

The process by which atoms share or exchange electrons.

pH

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Buffer

A substance that suppresses changes in the concentration of H+ in a solution.

Universal solvent

A term used to describe water's ability to dissolve many substances.

Ionic bonds

Bonds that arise when atoms exchange electrons.

Covalent bonds

Bonds that arise when atoms share electrons.

Hydrogen bonds

Weak attractions between partially charged interactions of polar molecules.

Electron shell

Regions around an atomic nucleus where electrons are likely to be found.

Valence shells

The outermost shell of an atom which contains its valence electrons.

Hydration shells

Layers of water molecules that surround solute particles when an ionic compound dissolves.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with differing numbers of neutrons.

Carbon dating

A method for determining the age of an object containing organic material by measuring the amount of carbon-14 it contains.

Hydroxyl group

A functional group -OH, that consists of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom.

Carbonyl group

A functional group consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom.

Carboxyl group

A functional group -COOH, that consists of a carbonyl group bonded to a hydroxyl group.

Amino group

A functional group -NH2, consisting of a nitrogen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms.

Phosphate group

A functional group consisting of a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms.