Chemistry Comes Alive: Matter, Energy, and Biochemistry

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering matter, atoms, molecules, chemical reactions, and biochemistry based on the Chapter 2 lecture notes.

States of Matter

The distinct physical forms that matter takes, including solid, liquid, and gas.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

Kinetic Energy

Energy in action.

Mechanical Energy

The type of energy provided by physical movement, such as using your arms to row a boat.

Heat

The form of energy that is "lost" when energy is converted from one form to another.

Major Elements of the Human Body

The four primary elements that make up the human body: Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen.

Atomic Number

A value always equal to the number of protons in an atom.

Isotopes

Atoms that have the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons.

Anion

An atom that has gained an electron, resulting in a more negative charge.

Radioisotopes

Atoms that spontaneously decompose into more stable atoms.

Compound

A substance formed from two or more different elements, such as $H_2O$, $NaCl$, or $C_6H_{12}O_6$.

Reactive Atom

An atom that is likely to interact with others because its electron shells (e.g., 2, 8, 7) are not full.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed specifically between a cation and an anion.

Polar Covalent Bond

A type of bond formed when electrons are shared unequally between atoms.

Solvent

A substance, such as water in the human body, that is present in the largest amount in a solution.

Synthesis Reaction

A chemical reaction involving the building of larger molecules, such as the construction of muscle tissue.

Reaction Rate Factors

Conditions that affect how fast a reaction occurs, including temperature, concentration of reactants, and particle size.

Catabolic Reaction

A type of chemical reaction during which bonds are broken.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction, of which an enzyme is an example.

Lipid

A class of organic compounds that includes substances such as steroids.

Weak Base

A substance characterized by a $pH$ such as $7.4$.

Tertiary Structure

A level of protein structure described by $\alpha$-helical or $\beta$-pleated regions of the polypeptide chain folded upon one another.

Base

A substance that dissociates into cations and hydroxyl ions.

ATP

The primary energy-transferring molecule in the cell.