Chemistry: Hydrogen Bonds and Chemical Reactions

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering hydrogen bonds, water properties, hydrophobic and hydrophilic forces, chemical reactions, free energy, and basic atomic particles.

Hydrogen bond

A chemical bond involving no movement of electrons, caused by partial attraction between molecules rather than atoms due to partial charge differences.

Polar covalent bond

A covalent bond where the charge distribution on two ends is different, such as within a water molecule where oxygen is negatively charged and hydrogen is positively charged.

High heat capacity

A property of water meaning it requires a large input of heat to raise its temperature or change it from liquid to gas, making it a temperature buffer in living systems.

Hydrophilic

Meaning 'water loving', describing compounds that are usually ionic or polar and are able to dissolve in water.

Hydrophobic

Meaning 'water fearing', describing compounds that are mostly non-polar and do not dissolve well in water.

Hydrophobic force

The force that causes non-polar compounds to cluster together when excluded by water molecules in a body of water.

Chemical reaction

A process involving the making or breaking of chemical bonds between atoms or molecules, rearranging atoms to convert a molecule into a different molecule.

Exergonic reaction

A chemical reaction where the initial reactant molecules have a higher energy level than the product molecules, resulting in the release of energy from the system.

Endergonic reaction

A chemical reaction where the initial reactant molecules have a lower energy level than the product molecules, requiring an input of energy into the system.

Free energy

The difference between the energy level of reactant molecules and product molecules, symbolized by $\Delta G$.

Electrons

Subatomic particles within an atom that carry a negative charge.

Protons

Subatomic particles within an atom that carry a positive charge.

Neutrons

Subatomic particles within an atom that are electrically neutral.

Nucleus

The central region of an atom made up together by protons and neutrons.

Elements

Classifications for atoms that have different numbers of protons.