Biology Chapters 1-5
molecule
A group of two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.
protein
A macromolecular polymer composed of Amino Acid monomers.
polar molecule
A molecule with uneven distribution of charge, one part has positive charge, one part has negative charge.
starch
A polysaccharide, acts as a storage molecule for plants.
glycogen
A polysaccharide, acts as storage molecule for animals.
pH scale
A scale that measures the concentration of hydrogen ions, tells how acidic or basic a solution is.
aqueous solution
A solution in which water is the solvent.
heat
Amount of energy, associated with the movement of atoms and molecules.
base
Aqueous solution that accepts hydrogen ions.
acid
Aqueous solution that releases hydrogen ions.
double bond
Atoms that are covalently bonded using two pairs of outer shell electrons.
polar covalent bond
Bond between two atoms that have different electronegativities. Unequal sharing sharing of electrons.
disaccharide
Carbohydrate formed by the dehydration reaction between two monosaccharides.
carboxylic acids
Compounds that contain a carboxyl group.
waxes
Consists of one fatty acid linked to an alcohol, hydrophobic.
chemical bonds
Electromagnetic attraction between atoms, allows the formation of compounds.
electron shells
Energy levels of an atom, contain negatively charged subatomic particles.
carboxyl group
Functional group that consists of a hydroxyl group bonded to a carbonyl group.
polymers
Large molecules, composed of small molecules or monomers.
surface tension
Measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface of a liquid.
temperature
Measures intensity of heat and average speed of molecules.
amino acids
Molecules containing an amino group and a carboxyl group, building blocks of proteins.
functional group
The groups of atoms within molecules that cause the chemical reactions of those molecules. Always hydrophilic.
mass number
The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom.
atomic mass
The sum of the total mass of all electrons, neutrons, and protons in an atom.
cohesion
The tendency of molecules to stick together, especially in water.
molecule
a cluster of atoms held together by chemical bonds
system
a combination of components to form a more complex organization.
fat
a large lipid made from glycerol and fatty acids
solution
a liquid consisting of a uniform mixture of two or more substances
phospholipids
a major component of cell membranes, made up of a phosphorous and two fatty acids
natural selection
a mechanism for evolution
overproduction
a population of any species has the potential to produce far more offspring that will survive to produce offspring of their own
denaturation
a process in which polypeptide chains unravel, losing their specific shape and, therefore, function. Due to excessive heat or changes in pH or salt concentration in blood.
chemical reaction
a process leading to changes in the composition of matter
organ
a structure consisting of several tissues adapted as a group to form specific functions
organelle
a structure that performs a specific function in a cell
electron
a subatomic particle with a negative electrical charge
compound
a substance containing two or more elements in a fixed ratio.
element
a substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by ordinary chemical means.
nucleus
an atom's central core
neutron
an electrically neutral subatomic particle
organism
an individual living thing
population
an interacting group of individuals of one species
matter
anything that occupies space and has mass
organic compounds
carbon-based molecules
domains
category that includes bacteria, archaea, and eukarya
carbon skeleton
chain of carbon atoms in an organic molecule
isomer
compounds with the same formula but with different structures
ecosystem
consists of all of the organisms living in a particular area
biosphere
consists of all the environments on Earth that support life
solvent
dissolving agent in a solution
lipids
diverse compounds that consist mainly of carbon and hydrogen atoms linked by nonpolar covalent bonds, hydrophobic
trace elements
essential elements that are only essential in minute quantities
triglyceride
fat consisting of three fatty acid chains linked to a glycerol
unsaturated
fats that have less than the maximum amount of hydrogen due to a double bond
saturated
fats that have the maximum amount of hydrogen possible
amino group
functional group composed of a nitrogen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms.
carbonyl group
functional group that consists of a carbon atom linked by a double bond to an oxygen atom.
hydroxyl group
functional group that consists of a hydrogen atom bonded to an oxygen atom which is bonded to the carbon skeleton of a molecule
phosphate group
functional group that consists of a phosphorous atom bonded to four oxygen atoms.
theories
ideas that attempt to explain
individual variation
individuals in a population vary in many heritable traits
macromolecules
large molecules including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
steroids
lipids whose carbon skeleton is bent to form four rings, three 6-carbon rings and one 5-carbon ring.
monosaccharides
monomers for carbohydrates, single-unit sugars
cellulose
most abundant organic compound, a polysaccharide used in the cell wall
atomic number
number of protons in an atom of an element
consumers
organisms in an ecosystem that eat plants and other animals.
decomposers
organisms that act as recyclers, changing the complex dead matter into simple mineral nutrients that plants can use.
producers
organisms that provide the food for a typical ecosystem
tissues
part of organ with a specific function and made up of a group of similar cells
polysaccharides
polymers of monosaccharides linked together by dehydration reactions
acidic precipitation
rain, snow, or fog with a pH lower than 5.6
carbohydrates
refers to class of molecules ranging from the small sugar molecules dissolved in soft drink to large polysaccharides.
competition
result of overproduction, more individuals than an environment can support
cell
smallest unit of living matter
reactants
starting materials in a chemical reaction
proton
subatomic particle with positive electrical charge
buffers
substances that resist changes in pH by accepting H+ when in excess and donating H+ when it is depleted.
anabolic steroids
synthetic variants of the male hormone testosterone
organ system
system that consists of several organs that work together in performing a specific function.
evolutionary adaptation
the accumulation of favorable variations in a population over time.
community
the entire array of organisms inhabiting an ecosystem
products
the resulting materials formed in a chemical reaction
atom
the smallest unit of matter that still retains the properties of an element
taxonomy
the study of classification of species.
solute
the substance that is dissolved in a solution
species
the term used for a particular type of organism
emergent properties
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts"- properties that emerge that result from the arrangement and interactions of the component parts.
hydrophobic
"Water-fearing" molecules, nonpolar.
hydrophilic
"Water-loving" molecules, polar.
peptide bond
A chemical bond between amino acids, formed by a dehydration reaction.
covalent bond
A chemical bond where two atoms share one or more pairs of outer shell electrons.
hydrocarbons
Organic compounds consisting entirely of Hydrogen and Carbon.
polypeptides
Polymers of Amino Acids linked by peptide bonds.
dehydration reaction
Reaction caused by the removal of H2O, involved in the construction of macromolecules.
monomers
Small molecules, the building blocks of polymers.
electronegativity
The ability of an atom to attract electrons towards itself.
hydrogen bond
The covalent bond between polar molecules and hydrogen.
