Chapter 8: Cells, Cell Transport, and Chemical Reactions

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering cell structure and organelles, cellular transport mechanisms, and chemical reactions and enzymes based on Chapter 8 lecture notes.

Cell Theory

The scientific theory stating that all living things are made up of cells, cells are the basic unit of structure and function, and cells come from other cells.

Eukaryote

Bigger, more complex cells that have organelles, a larger nucleus, and DNA organized into chromosomes.

Prokaryote

Smaller and simpler cells, such as bacteria, that have no nucleus and contain a single circular chromosome.

Phospholipid Bilayer

A double-layered outer skin that surrounds every cell and acts as a protective, flexible boundary.

Diffusion

The movement of a molecule from where it is highly concentrated to where it is at a lower concentration.

Facilitated Diffusion

Diffusion across the cell membrane through a transport protein.

Hypertonic

A solution where the outside has less water and way more particles than the inside of the cell, causing water to move out and make the cell shrink.

Hypotonic

A solution where the outside has more water and fewer particles than the inside of the cell, causing water to move into the cell and make it swell up.

Isotonic

A state where both sides have the same concentration, with water moving in and out equally so the cell stays normal.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a membrane from high concentration to low concentration through a transport named aquaporin.

Osmotic Pressure

The force produced from the net movement of water out of or into a cell.

Active Transport

A transport process where solute moves from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration.

Endocytosis

A form of bulk transport where the membrane forms a pocket around a particle that breaks loose from the outer portion of the cell membrane to form a vesicle within the cytoplasm.

Exocytosis

A form of bulk transport where the membrane of a vesicle surrounds material and fuses with the cell membrane, forcing contents out of the cell.

Chemical Reaction

A process where starting substances (reactants) transform into different, new substances (products) by breaking and forming chemical bonds.

Exothermic

A chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat.

Endothermic

A chemical reaction that absorbs energy in the form of heat.

Activation Energy

The energy needed to start a chemical reaction.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy and providing an active site where reactions are brought together.

Active Site

A place on an enzyme where substrates bind to form the enzyme-substrate complex.

Denature

A change in shape of a protein or enzyme.