Vocab Word | Answer (from textbook) | Anchor/Helper Phrase |
atom | the basic unit of matter | made of protons, neutrons, and electrons |
compound | substance formed by the chemical combinations of two or more elements in definite proportions | combined atoms |
covalent bond | type of bond between atoms in which the electrons are shared | the strongest chemical bond |
peptide bond | type of covalent bond that holds the amino acids of proteins together | bond found in proteins (P = peptide, protein) |
ionic bond | chemical bond formed when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another | weak bond in which electrons are "stolen"; holds salt together |
water | the most common compound in living things; the universal solvent | main jobs: dissolving and transporting |
polarity | an uneven distribution of charges on a molecule | water is both + and - |
hydrogen bond | weak attraction between a hydrogen atom and another atom | the bond that holds multiple water molecules together; creates surface tension |
cohesion | attraction between molecules of the same substance | when water is attracted to itself |
adhesion | force of attraction between different kinds of molecules | water is attracted to other things with charges |
solute | substance that is dissolved in a solution | in salt water, this term describes the salt |
solvent | dissolving substance in a solution | in salt water, this term describes the water |
pH scale | scale with values from 0 to 14, used to measure the strength of an acid or base; pure water has a pH of 7 (neutral) | Goes from 0 (strong acids) to 14 (strong bases) |
acid | solution with a pH of 0-7 | A before B, acids (0-7) before bases (7-14) |
base | solution with a pH of 7-14 | A before B, acids (0-7) before bases (7-14) |
monomer | small chemical unit that makes up a polymer/macromolecule | the building blocks of bigger molecules; mono = "one" |
polymer | molecules composed of many monomers; makes up macromolecules | big molecules needed for life; poly = "many" |
carbohyrate | compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; type of nutrient that is the major source of energy for living things | monomer/building block = monosaccharides ("one sugar") |
lipid | macromolecule made mostly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; makes up most of the cell membrane; includes fats, oils, and waxes | monomer/building block = fatty acids |
protein | macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms; needed by the body for growth and repair | monomer/building block = amino acids |
nucleic acid | macromolecule that contains hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen. carbon, and phosphorus; stores genetic information | monomer/building block = nucleotides; the "NA" in DNA and RNA |
homeostasis | relatively constant internal physical and chemical conditions that organisms maintain | "same status"; how an organism keeps itself in balance |