bio chapter 1.1 + 1.2 vocab

Ionic bond

formed between ions with opposite charges. 

Hydrophilic

“likes” water

Covalent bond

A bond between two non-metal elements where electron pairs are shared between nuclei of each atom.

Hydrophobic

water repelling

Polar covalent bond/ Polar molecule/ Polarity

a type of covalent bond where the electrons are unequally shared due to the difference in electronegativity of the atoms

Cohesion

the attractive force between molecules of the same substance.

Nonpolar covalent bond

when atoms share electrons equally

Adhesion

the attraction between molecules of different substances.

Hydrogen bond

a type of weak chemical bond that occurs when a hydrogen atom, which is covalently bonded to an electronegative atom

Surface tension

At the surface of water, hydrogen bonds create a high surface tension, allowing small insects to walk on water without breaking the surface.

Specific heat capacity

a measure of how much heat energy is required to change the temperature of a substance.

Acid

a substance that increases the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in a solution.

Solvent/Solute/Solution

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances. In a solution, the solvent is the substance that dissolves other substances, while the solute is the substance that is dissolved.

Base

a substance that reduces the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.

Heat of vaporization

the amount of heat energy required for 1 gram of a liquid to transform into a gas

Buffer

a substance that helps maintain a stable pH in a solution by minimizing changes in the concentrations of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions

Evaporative Cooling

a process where the surface of an object becomes cooler during evaporation.

Capillary Action

the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of external forces like gravity.

Electronegative

a measure of how strongly an atom attracts electrons in a covalent bond.

pH / pH scale

a tool used to measure the acidity or basicity of aqueous solutions. It ranges from 0 to 14

Organic compound

primarily made up of carbon atoms bonded with other elements like hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and more.

Monomer

are crucial in forming carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids. a small molecule that can bind to other similar molecules to form a polymer.

biomolecule

are organic molecules present in living organisms, primarily composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

Macromolecule

are large, complex molecules essential for life, including carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.

Hydrocarbon

organic molecules composed entirely of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms

Polymer

large molecules composed of repeating subunits called monomers. These monomers are linked together by covalent bonds,

Polymerization

the process by which monomers are chemically bonded to form polymers. This process is crucial for creating large biological molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids.

ATP

primary energy carrier in cells, crucial for various cellular processes.

Enzyme

biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in cells by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur

Hydroxyl group

a functional group consisting of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (-OH)

Dehydration synthesis (condensation)

a process where two molecules are covalently bonded with the loss of a water molecule. This reaction is crucial in forming polymers, such as carbohydrates and proteins, from monomers.

Hydrogen ion

is a single proton with a positive charge (H⁺).

Hydrolysis

a chemical reaction that involves breaking bonds between two molecules by adding water. This process is crucial for disassembling polymers into monomers, which are the building blocks of larger molecules.