Chemistry, Biology, and Hierarchy of Life

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering subatomic structure, periodic table concepts, resource management, and the biological hierarchy of life based on lecture notes.

Atom

The smallest unit of an element that still has the same properties of that element.

Protons

Subatomic particles located in the nucleus with a positive (+) charge that contribute to most of an atom's mass.

Neutrons

Subatomic particles located in the nucleus with no charge (neutral) that contribute to most of an atom's mass.

Electrons

Subatomic particles surrounding the nucleus with a negative (-) charge that contribute very little to an atom's overall mass.

Bohr model

A simplified way to represent an atom showing a nucleus containing protons and neutrons surrounded by electrons.

Atomic number

The number of protons in an element, which determines which element it is and sets its order on the periodic table.

Groups or families

Vertical columns on the periodic table containing elements that tend to have similar chemical properties.

Atomic mass

The weighted average mass of naturally occurring isotopes of an element, related primarily to the number of protons and neutrons.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Carbon-13

An isotope of carbon containing 6 protons and 7 neutrons.

Atom nucleus

The central structure of an atom containing protons and neutrons, distinct from a cell's nucleus which contains DNA.

Electron energy levels

Regions around the nucleus where electrons reside; the 1st level holds up to 2 electrons, while the 2nd and 3rd levels hold up to 8 electrons each.

Octet rule

The principle that atoms tend to be more stable when their outer or valence energy level is full.

Neutral atom

An atom with equal numbers of protons and electrons, causing the charges to cancel out.

Ion

A charged atom formed when an atom gains or loses electrons.

Tragedy of the commons

A scenario where people share a limited resource and individuals use too much of it for their own benefit, causing the resource to become depleted or damaged and hurting everyone who depends on it.

System

Every level in the hierarchy of life separated from its surroundings by a boundary.

Emergent properties

New characteristics that appear as organization moves to a higher level that are not present at the level below.

Molecule

Two or more atoms bonded together, such as carbon dioxide ($CO_2$).

Macromolecules

Large molecules made of smaller building blocks, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Organelles

Structures inside cells that perform specific jobs, such as the plasma membrane.

Cells

The basic units of life, such as red blood cells.

Tissue

A group of similar cells working together, such as muscle tissue.

Organ

Different tissues working together for a specific function, such as the heart.

Organ system

A group of organs working together, such as the circulatory system.

Organism

An individual living thing, such as an Elk.

Population

Organisms of the same species living in the same area.

Community

Different populations interacting in the same area.

Ecosystem

Living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components interacting in an area.

Biome

Large areas containing ecosystems with similar climates, such as tundra or rainforest.

Biosphere

The sum of all ecosystems on Earth.