Chemistry of Life Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is matter?

A substance that cannot be broken down chemically

A mixture of substances that retain their properties

Anything that occupies space and has mass (correct)

A reaction that changes the properties of a substance

What is mass?

The quantity of matter an object has.

What is an element?

Substances that cannot be broken down chemically into simpler kinds of matter.

What is an atom?

The simplest particle of an element that retains all of the properties of that element. Signup and view all the answers

What does the nucleus consist of?

Two kinds of subatomic particles. Signup and view all the answers

Where are protons located and what is their charge?

Inside the nucleus and positively charged. Signup and view all the answers

Where are neutrons located and what is their charge?

Inside the nucleus and has no charge. Signup and view all the answers

What do electrons do?

Surround the nucleus and are negatively charged. Signup and view all the answers

What is atomic number?

The number of protons in an atom. Signup and view all the answers

What is mass number?

Equal to the total number of protons and neutrons of the atom. Signup and view all the answers

What is an electron?

Negatively charged particles in an atom that has the same number of protons. Signup and view all the answers

What is an orbital?

3-D region around the nucleus that indicates the probable location of an electron. Signup and view all the answers

What is an isotope?

Atoms of the same element that have different number of neutrons. Signup and view all the answers

What is a compound?

Made up of atoms of two or more elements that are chemically bonded in fixed proportions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a mixture?

A physical blend of substances that are not chemically bonded. Signup and view all the answers

What is a chemical bond?

Attractive forces that hold atoms together. Signup and view all the answers

What is a covalent bond?

Forms when two or more atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. Signup and view all the answers

What is a molecule?

Simplest part of a substance that retains all of the properties of that substance and can exist in a free state. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ion?

An atom or molecule with an electrical charge. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ionic bond?

The attraction between negative and positive electrical charges. Signup and view all the answers

How are isotopes of the same element alike?

They have the same chemical properties but slightly different masses. Signup and view all the answers

Why is water called a polar molecule?

Due to the uneven distribution of charge. Signup and view all the answers

What is the pH scale?

A scale that compares the relative concentrations of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions in a solution. Signup and view all the answers

Why does pure water have a neutral pH?

The concentrations of ions are balanced. Signup and view all the answers

What is a buffer?

A substance that neutralizes small amounts of either an acid or a base added to a solution. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of enzymes in living systems?

They speed up metabolic reactions without being permanently changed or destroyed. Signup and view all the answers

What is energy?

The ability to do work. Signup and view all the answers

What is metabolism?

All of the chemical reactions that occur in an organism. Signup and view all the answers

What is a chemical reaction?

One or more substances changed to produce one or more different substances. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chemistry of Life Concepts

Matter: Anything that occupies space and has mass.
Mass: The quantity of matter in an object.
Element: Substances that cannot be chemically broken down into simpler types.
Atom: The smallest particle of an element retaining its properties.
Nucleus: Composed of protons and neutrons, it constitutes most of an atom's mass.
Proton: Positively charged particle within the nucleus.
Neutron: Neutral particle within the nucleus.
Electron: Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus.

Atomic and Molecular Structure

Atomic Number: Represents the number of protons in an atom, defining its chemical properties.
Mass Number: Total count of protons and neutrons in an atom.
Orbital: 3-D region indicating the probable location of electrons around the nucleus.
Isotope: Same element differing in the number of neutrons.
Compound: Substance formed from two or more elements chemically bonded in fixed proportions.
Mixture: Physical blend of non-chemically bonded substances.

Chemical Bonds

Chemical Bond: Attractive forces holding atoms together.
Covalent Bond: Formed when atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.
Ionic Bond: Attraction between positively and negatively charged ions.

Chemical Reactions

Energy: The capacity to perform work.
Chemical Reaction: Process where reactants transform into products.
Reactant: Substances that undergo change in a chemical reaction.
Product: Resulting substances formed from a chemical reaction.
Metabolism: Set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms.
Activation Energy: Energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.
Catalyst: Substance that lowers activation energy and speeds up reactions.

Enzymes and Reactions

Enzyme: A biological catalyst that accelerates metabolic reactions without permanent change.
Redox Reaction: Involves reduction (gain of electrons) and oxidation (loss of electrons).
Oxidation: Loss of electrons, leading to a positive charge.
Reduction: Gain of electrons, leading to a negative charge.

Properties of Matter

States of Matter: Solid (fixed shape and volume), Liquid (fixed volume, variable shape), Gas (fills container shape, no fixed volume).
Cohesion: Force holding molecules of a single substance together.
Adhesion: Attractive force between particles of different substances.
Capillarity: Liquid's ability to rise in narrow tubes due to cohesion and adhesion.

Solutions and pH

Solution: Mixture of one or more substances uniformly distributed within another.
Solute: The substance dissolved in a solution.
Solvent: The substance that dissolves the solute.
Concentration: Amount of solute in a given solution volume.
Saturated Solution: Contains maximum solute that can be dissolved.
pH Scale: Measures hydrogen ion concentration; ranges from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic).
Buffer: Substance that neutralizes minor pH fluctuations in solutions.

Importance of Water

Polar Molecule: Water has uneven charge distribution, with oxygen attracting electrons more strongly than hydrogen.
Properties Importance: High specific heat, cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, density, universal solvent role, and polarity are crucial for supporting life.
Neutral pH: Pure water has balanced ion concentrations, making it neither acidic nor basic.
pH Control: Necessary for maintaining health as imbalances can lead to diseases.

Miscellaneous

Role of Enzymes: Accelerate reactions and lower activation energy in living systems.
Carbonic Anhydrase: An enzyme critical for transporting oxygen in the blood; interfered by disruptive molecules can lead to serious health issues.
Hydrogen Bond: Interactions linked with the properties of cohesion, adhesion, and capillarity are essential for water's behavior in various biological systems.

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Description

Explore key concepts in chemistry with these flashcards that cover essential terms such as matter, mass, elements, and atoms. This resource is perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of the basic building blocks of life. Test your knowledge and improve your vocabulary in the fascinating field of chemistry.