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micro ch 2
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| acids | Substances that release hydrogen ions (H*). |
| adenosine triphosphate (ATP) | a chemical compound (nucleotide) that provides energy for the cell. |
| anabolism | the synthesis of large molecules from smaller ones. This reaction requires energy. |
| anions | negatively charged ions; they move toward the positive pole or anode of an electric field. |
| atomic nucleus | the center of the atom; contains protons (positively charged particles) and neutrons (no charge; the exception is hydrogen, which does not contain neutrons). |
| atomic number | equals the number of protons in an atomic nucleus. |
| atomic weight | equals the number of protons and neutrons in an atom. |
| atoms | a unit of matter, the smallest unit of an element. |
| bases | a chemical compound that dissociates in water and releases hydroxyl ions. |
| catabolism | metabolic pathway that breaks down large molecules into smaller units. These reactions release energy. |
| cations | an ion with a positive charge. |
| chemical bond | the result of forces of attraction that hold together atoms in an element or compound caused by the interaction of electrons. |
| chemical compounds | a chemical substance that consists of two or more different elements bonded together. |
| chemical formula | the shorthand expression for a chemical compound. |
| cholesterol | a sterol, a combination of a steroid and an alcohol. |
| covalent bonds | a form of chemical bonding that results from a sharing of electrons between two atoms of the same element or between atoms of different elements. |
| dehydration synthesis | the formation of a larger compound (polymer) from smaller ones (monomers); also called condensation. |
| deoxyriboneucleic acid (DNA) | contains the genetic information of a cell; it is a nucleic acid with a double-helix structure containing the sugar deoxyribose and 10 bases per turn. |
| disaccharides | compounds formed when two monosaccharides combine with the loss of a water molecule. |
| electrolyte | a substance that dissociates into free ions when dissolved in a solvent such as water. |
| electrons | negatively charged particle orbiting in the shells of atoms. |
| elements | a type of atom that can be distinguished by its atomic number. |
| endergonic | a chemical reaction that requires energy. |
| exchange reactions | reactions that transfer the same molecules but in a different combination; therefore, the components of the reaction remain the same, but their combination results in a different product. |
| exergonic | describes chemical reactions that give off energy. |
| hydrogen bonds | a weak chemical bond between molecules that always involves a hydrogen atom with a slight positive charge and an oxygen or nitrogen atom with a slightly negative charge. |
| hydrolysis | or decomposition; the breaking down of large molecules (polymers) into unit molecules (monomers) in the presence of water. |
| hydrophilic | water-loving" or water-soluble compounds. |
| hydrophobic | : molecules held together by nopolar covalent bonds; they are water repellent and insoluble in water. |
| hypetonic | a solution that has a higher concentration of solutes than solvent |
| hypotonic | a solution that has a lower concentration of solutes than solvent. |
| ionic bonds | formed when one or more electrons from one atom are transferred to another. |
| ions | an atom or molecule that has lost or gained one or more electrons, resulting in a positive or negative electrical charge. |
| isotonic | solutions with the same amount of solute and solvent. |
| isotopes | form of an atom of an element with the same number of protons but with a different number of neutrons. |
| matter | anything with volume and mass and that takes up space. |
| molecules | two or more atoms linked together by chemical bonds. |
| monosaccharides | simple sugars that contain three to seven carbon atoms and an aldehyde sugar or a ketone sugar (depending on the position of the carbonyl group). |
| neutrons | particle in the atomic nucleus that is without electrical charge. |
| nonpolar | without electrical charge. |
| oxidation | occurs when an atom or molecule loses one or more electrons. |
| phospholipids | polar lipids and the main component of plasma mem-branes. |
| pH scale | scale based on the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution and is used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. |
| polar | in chemistry, a bond that has an uneven distribution of charge caused by unequal distribution of shared electrons. |
| polysaccharides | complex carbohydrates such as starch, glycogen, and cellulose. |
| prostaglandins | ormone-like substances derived from arachidonic acid. They participate in a wide range of body functions, including contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle, dilation and constriction of blood vessels, and modulation of inflammation. |
| protons | positively charged particles in the atomic nucleus. |
| radioactivity | the spontaneous emission of energy or particles from an unstable atom. |
| redox | a reduction-oxidation reaction. |
| reduction | the gaining of an electron(s) by an atom or molecule. |
| riboneucleic acid (RNA) | nucleic acid that is transcribed from DNA and directs or participates in protein synthesis. |
| shells | in atoms, the discrete energy regions occupied by the electrons orbiting around the nucleus. |
| solutes | dissolved particles in a solution. |
| solution | a homogeneous mixture of solvent and solutes that will not separate out on standing. |
| solvent | a liquid capable of dissolving a substance. |
| steroids | a lipid with a four-ring structure. |
| synthesis | chemical reaction in which reactants bond together to form a new molecule. |
| triglycerides | lipids composed of fatty acids and glycerol; they are neutral fats. |
| valence electrons | the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that can be gained or lost in a chemical reaction. |
| van der Waals forces | weak attractions between molecules that have a small degree of polarity. |