AP Biology 1st Semester Exam Review

Flashcards created from lecture notes on key concepts in AP Biology including water properties, organic molecules, cell biology, enzymatic functions, photosynthesis, and more.

Water's Chemical Properties

Water is polar, with oxygen being slightly negative and hydrogen slightly positive.

Hydrogen Bond

A bond between a hydrogen atom and a negatively charged atom; all water molecules are connected through hydrogen bonds.

Polar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond where the electron distribution is uneven.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond where the distribution of charge is even throughout.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves solutes; in biology, water is the primary solvent.

pH Scale

A measure of acidity or basicity; lower than 7 indicates an acid, higher than 7 indicates a base.

Buffer

A system that minimizes pH changes in biological systems, maintaining homeostasis.

Functional Groups

Molecular groups that attach to biological compounds, determining their properties and functions.

Dehydration Synthesis

A process that combines two molecules by removing a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

A process that breaks down molecules by adding water, reversing dehydration synthesis.

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrates; examples include glucose and fructose.

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate formed from two monosaccharides during dehydration synthesis.

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate composed of many monosaccharides, usually insoluble in water.

Triglyceride

A lipid formed by three fatty acids connected to a glycerol molecule.

Saturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid with no double bonds between carbon atoms, leading to maximum hydrogen saturation.

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid that contains one or more double bonds, resulting in fewer hydrogen atoms.

Amino Acid

The building blocks of proteins, consisting of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and an R group.

Peptide Bond

The bond formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells with a nucleus and organelles, more complex than prokaryotic cells.

Prokaryotic Cells

Simple cells without a nucleus; includes bacteria.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants, using chlorophyll, convert light energy into chemical energy.

Fermentation

An anaerobic process that converts glucose into energy without oxygen.

Enzyme

A protein that functions as a catalyst to accelerate biochemical reactions.

Active Site

The region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Cell Signal Reception

The first stage of cell signaling where the ligand binds to the receptor.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, a process critical for development and maintaining tissue homeostasis.