The Chemistry and Molecules of Life

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering basic chemistry, atomic structure, chemical bonds, water properties, acids and bases, organic macromolecules, and plant secondary metabolites.

Levels of magnification in matter

The six hierarchical levels of matter breakdown from macro to micro: 1. Macroscopic level (Matter), 2. Molecular level, 3. Atomic level (Protons, neutrons, and electrons), 4. Subatomic level (Electron), 5. Subatomic level (Quarks), and 6. String level.

Atomic number

The number of protons or electrons in an atom.

Mass number

The total number of protons plus neutrons in an atom.

Protium

An isotope of hydrogen containing one electron and one proton, with an atomic number of $1$ and a mass number of $1$.

Deuterium

An isotope of hydrogen containing one electron, one proton, and one neutron, with an atomic number of $1$ and a mass number of $2$.

Tritium

An isotope of hydrogen containing one electron, one proton, and two neutrons, with an atomic number of $1$ and a mass number of $3$.

Hydrogen atom

An atom consisting of a central positively charged nucleus ($+$) surrounded by a single negatively charged orbiting electron ($-$).

Helium atom

An unreactive atom with an atomic number of $2$ and a mass number of $4$, containing 2 protons, 2 neutrons, and 2 orbiting electrons.

Oxygen atom

A chemically reactive atom with an atomic number of $8$ and a mass number of $16$ ($8\text{ protons} + 8\text{ neutrons}$).

Ionic bond

A chemical link formed between a positively charged atom and a negatively charged atom through the transfer of an electron.

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Covalent bond

A type of chemical bond formed by the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.

Water molecule ($H_2O$)

A bent molecule formed by covalent bonding where shared electrons create a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other.

Hydrogen bonds

Weak bonds that develop between water molecules due to partial charges on hydrogen and oxygen, resulting in a networking of water molecules.

Acids

Substances that release hydrogen ions ($H^+$ or protons) in solution.

Bases

Substances that release hydroxide ions ($OH^-$ or hydroxyl ions) in solution.

Buffers

Molecules that combine with hydrogen ions, release them, or both, to help modify and stabilize proper metabolic pH.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars with a carbon backbone consisting of three to seven carbon atoms existing as chains or rings, such as glucose and fructose.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed by joining two monosaccharides together via a covalent bond through a condensation (dehydration synthesis) reaction.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates composed of many simple-sugar building blocks bonded together in long chains, such as cellulose, starch, chitin, and glycogen.

Amino acids

The 20 distinct building blocks of proteins that differ from one another by their specific R group.

Peptide bonds

Covalent bonds that join amino acids together in a polypeptide or protein.

Enzymes

Proteins that function as biological catalysts that speed up the rates of chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.

Primary structure

The level of protein structure that refers to the specific linear sequence of amino acids.

Secondary structure

The level of protein structure referring to hydrogen bonding that occurs within an amino acid chain or between chains, causing helical or sheet-like structures.

Tertiary structure

The level of protein structure resulting from interactions between R groups that cause the protein to fold over onto itself.

Quaternary structure

The level of protein structure where several polypeptides are incorporated together to form a functional protein.

Lipids

A diverse group of organic molecules containing a higher proportion of hydrogen than carbohydrates, with most containing at least one fatty acid chain.

Nucleotides

Molecules composed of a 5-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogen-containing base (pyrimidine or purine).

Anthocyanins

Plant cell sap pigments whose color varies based on pH, appearing red in basic environments and violet/blue in acidic environments.

Alkaloids

A class of plant secondary metabolites that includes morphine, codeine, quinine, cocaine, caffeine, nicotine, and atropine.

Terpenoids

A class of plant secondary metabolites that includes camphor, menthol, isoprene, essential oils, taxol, latex and rubber, and cardiac glycosides.

Phenolics

A class of plant secondary metabolites that includes flavonoids (anthocyanins, flavones), flavonols, tannins, lignin, and salicin/salicylic acid.