The Chemistry of Life

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the study of the chemistry of life.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

States of Matter

The three states in which matter can exist: solid, liquid, or gas.

Chemistry

The study of matter and its interactions.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that retains its original properties, made up of subatomic particles.

Subatomic Particles

The smaller structures that make up an atom, including protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle found in the atomic nucleus.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with no charge, found in the atomic nucleus.

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle found outside the atomic nucleus.

Electron Shells

Regions surrounding the atomic nucleus where electrons are likely to be found.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, defining the element.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

Isotope

An atom with the same atomic number but different mass number due to a different number of neutrons.

Radioisotope

An unstable isotope that releases energy or radiation during radioactive decay.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances physically intermixed without changing their chemical nature.

Suspension

A type of mixture containing large, unevenly distributed particles that will settle out when left undisturbed.

Colloid

A mixture containing small, evenly distributed particles that will not settle out.

Solution

A mixture containing very small, evenly distributed particles with a solute dissolved in a solvent.

Chemical Bond

An attractive force between atoms that forms when they combine chemically.

Molecule

A chemical structure formed by the bonding of two or more atoms of the same element.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more different elements are chemically bonded.

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that determine its bonding behavior.

Octet Rule

An atom is most stable when it has eight electrons in its valence shell.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, creating charged ions.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed by losing electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed by gaining electrons.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed when two nonmetal atoms share electrons.

Electronegativity

The atom's ability to attract electrons; increases from the bottom left to the upper right of the periodic table.

Polar Covalent Bond

A bond where two nonmetals with different electronegativities share electrons unequally.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak attraction between the partially positive end of one dipole and the partially negative end of another dipole.

Chemical Notation

A series of symbols and abbreviations used to represent chemical reactions.

Reactants

The starting ingredients on the left side of a chemical equation.

Products

The results of a chemical reaction on the right side of a chemical equation.

Energy

The capacity to do work, put matter into motion, or fuel chemical reactions.

Potential Energy

Stored energy that can be released to do work at a later time.

Kinetic Energy

Energy in motion that has been released to perform work.

Catabolic Reaction

A reaction where a large substance is broken down into smaller substances.

Anabolic Reaction

A reaction where small simple units are combined to form larger, more complex substances.

Buffer

A chemical system that resists changes in pH when acid or base is added.

Salt

A compound formed from the reaction of an acid and a base, consisting of metal cations and nonmetal anions.

Electrolyte

Ions in solution that conduct electrical current.

Dehydration Synthesis

An anabolic reaction that links monomers together to form a polymer, releasing water.

Hydrolysis

A catabolic reaction that uses water to break down polymers into smaller units.

Amino Acid

The monomer of proteins, linked by peptide bonds to form polypeptides.

Nucleotide

The monomers of nucleic acids, consisting of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group.

DNA

The double helix molecule found in the nucleus, containing genetic information.

RNA

A single-stranded nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis.

ATP

A nucleotide that serves as the main energy currency of the cell.