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AP Bio Chapter 2
Chemical Context of Life
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Matter | Anything that takes up space and has mass |
| Element | Substance that can't be broken down to other substances by chem reactions (92) |
| Compound | consists of 2+ diff ele combined in fixed ratio |
| Essential ele | Necessary for orgs to live (96% is C, H, O, N) (Ca, P, K, S, Na, Cl) |
| Trace ele | required by org in only minute quantities |
| Atom | smallest unit of matter that still retains the properties of an ele |
| Dalton | One atomic mass unit (amu); neutrons/protons ~1 dalton |
| Atomic # | # of protons (subscript to left), equal to # of electrons unless indicated |
| Mass number | sum of protons plus neutrons (above atomic #) |
| Atomic Mass | Total mass of an atom |
| Isotopes | Diff atomic forms of same ele (neutrons diff) |
| Radioactive isotope | nucleus decays spontaneously, giving off particles and E; changes to diff ele; used to date relics |
| Energy | Capacity to cause change |