Chapter 2: The Chemistry of Life

Macromolecules

Made from thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of smaller molecules called monomers

Complex carbohydrates

The large macromolecules that form when simple sugars join together

Buffer

A compound that prevents sharp, sudden changes in pH

Electron

A negatively charged particle (-)

Suspension

A mixture of water and non-dissolved material

Acid

A compound that releases hydrogen ions in a solution; has a pH of less than 7

Water

________ is often part of a mixture.

Isotopes

________ are named using their mass number.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering a reaction's energy rate

Solvent

Is what does the dissolving

Nucleus

Is the center of the atom

pure substance

An element is a(n) ________ that consists entirely of one type of atom.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts in living things

Covalent bonds

________ form structures called molecules.

Carbon atoms

________ have 4 electrons available for bonding.

pH scale

Is used to show the concentration of H+ ions in a solution

hydroxide ions

A base is a compound that releases ________ in a solution; has a pH of more than 7.

Neutrons

Protons and ________ have the same mass but different charges

Amino acids

Compounds with an amino group on one end and a carboxyl group on the other end

Mixture

Is made up of elements or compounds that are combined, but not bonded, together

Molecule

The smallest unit of most compounds that displays all properties of that compound

Hydrogen bond

Bond that gives water special properties such as cohesion, adhesion, and a high heat capacity

chemical combination

A compound is a substance formed by the ________ of two or more elements in definite proportions.

Carbon bonds

Can be single, double, or triple and can even close up on themselves to form rings

Ribonucleic acid

Contains the sugar ribose

Deoxyribonucleic acid

Contains the sugar deoxyribose

electrons

An atom that loses ________ becomes positively charged.

Substrates

The reactants of enzyme-catalyzed reactions

Atom

The basic unit of matter

molecule

A(n) ________ in which the charges are unevenly spread out is said to be "polar.

Carbon atoms

________ can bond with one another.

Covalent bond

A bond between atoms in which the electrons are shared

Each element has a 1

or 2-letter symbol (C for carbon or Na for sodium)

Single covalent bond

Atoms sharing 2 electrons

Double bond

Atoms sharing 4 electrons

Triple bond

Atoms sharing 6 electrons

Cohesion

the attraction between molecules of the same substance

Adhesion

the force of attraction between different kinds of molecules

Heat capacity

the amount of energy needed to increase a substances temperature

Carbohydrates

compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; a type of nutrient that is the main source of energy for the body

Lipids

macromolecules that generally do not dissolve in water and are made mostly of carbon and hydrogen atoms; used to store energy and are parts of membranes and waterproof coverings

Nucleic acids

macromolecules containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus; function to store and transmit genetic information

Proteins

Macromolecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; needed by the body for growth and repair

Polymers

Monomers join to form _______