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Anatomy & Physiology: Chemistry of Life Fundamentals

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Terms in this set (28)

  • What are atoms and elements?
    Atoms are the smallest units of matter retaining properties; elements are substances made of identical atoms defined by atomic number.
  • Where are protons, neutrons, and electrons located in an atom?
    Protons and neutrons are in the nucleus; electrons orbit in shells around the nucleus.
  • Which four elements make up 96% of the human body mass?
    Oxygen (O), Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Nitrogen (N).
  • What defines an isotope?
    Atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
  • What is a chemical bond?
    An attractive force between atoms that holds them together.
  • Difference between molecule and compound?
    A molecule is two or more atoms of the same element bonded; a compound is atoms of different elements bonded.
  • What is the octet rule?
    Atoms are most stable with 8 electrons in their valence shell.
  • How do ionic bonds form?
    By transfer of electrons between a metal and a nonmetal, creating charged ions.
  • What are cations and anions?
    Cations are positively charged ions; anions are negatively charged ions.
  • What characterizes covalent bonds?
    Formed by sharing electrons between nonmetal atoms; can be single, double, or triple bonds.
  • Difference between nonpolar and polar covalent bonds?
    Nonpolar bonds share electrons equally; polar bonds share electrons unequally, creating dipoles.
  • What are hydrogen bonds and their importance?
    Weak attractions between polar molecules; crucial for water's properties and protein structure.
  • What is potential and kinetic energy in chemical reactions?
    Potential energy is stored energy; kinetic energy is energy in motion.
  • What is activation energy?
    Energy required for reactants to collide and react; enzymes lower this energy.
  • How do enzymes function?
    They are biological catalysts that bind substrates at an active site and increase reaction rates without being consumed.
  • What is denaturation of proteins?
    Loss of protein shape due to heat, pH, or chemicals, causing loss of function.
  • What are acids and bases in terms of proton transfer?
    Acids are proton donors; bases are proton acceptors.
  • What does the pH scale measure?
    The hydrogen ion concentration; pH 7 is neutral, below 7 acidic, above 7 basic.
  • What is the role of buffers in the body?
    They resist changes in pH to maintain homeostasis, e.g., carbonic acid–bicarbonate system.
  • What are the main types of organic compounds in the body?
    Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
  • What are carbohydrates composed of and their function?
    Made of C, H, O in 1:2:1 ratio; provide fuel, structure, and cell communication.
  • What are lipids and their characteristics?
    Nonpolar, hydrophobic molecules including fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.
  • What is the structure of phospholipids?
    Glycerol backbone, two fatty acids (nonpolar tails), and a phosphate group (polar head); amphiphilic.
  • What is the steroid nucleus?
    A four-ring hydrocarbon structure found in all steroids like cholesterol.
  • What are proteins made of and their structure levels?
    Made of amino acids linked by peptide bonds; have primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.
  • What are nucleotides and their role?
    Monomers of nucleic acids; composed of nitrogenous base, sugar, and phosphate; store genetic info and energy (ATP).
  • What is ATP?
    Adenosine triphosphate; main energy currency of the cell; energy released by hydrolysis.
  • Difference between DNA and RNA?
    DNA is double-stranded with deoxyribose sugar and thymine; RNA is single-stranded with ribose sugar and uracil.