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General Biology: Chemical Context of Life

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Termini in questo insieme (29)

  • What is matter?

    Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass, including rocks, metals, oils, gases, and living organisms.

  • What are the three fundamental phases of matter?

    Solid, liquid, and gas.

  • Define an element.

    An element is a substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by chemical reactions.

  • What is a compound?

    A compound is a substance consisting of two or more elements in a fixed ratio, with properties different from its elements.

  • Name the four elements that make up 96% of living matter.

    Carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N).

  • What are trace elements?

    Trace elements are required by organisms in minute quantities, e.g., iodine for thyroid function and iron for blood production.

  • What subatomic particles compose an atom?

    Neutrons (no charge), protons (positive charge), and electrons (negative charge).

  • Where are protons and neutrons located in an atom?

    They form the atomic nucleus at the center of the atom.

  • What determines the atomic number of an element?

    The number of protons in the element's nucleus.

  • Define isotopes.

    Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

  • What is a radioactive isotope?

    An isotope that decays spontaneously, giving off particles and energy.

  • What is the half-life of a radioactive isotope?

    The time it takes for 50% of the parent isotope to decay to daughter isotopes.

  • How are radioactive isotopes used in medicine?

    As diagnostic tools (e.g., PET scans) and treatments (radiopharmaceuticals targeting specific cells).

  • What is potential energy in electrons?

    Energy that matter possesses due to its location or structure; electrons farther from the nucleus have higher potential energy.

  • What are electron shells?

    Fixed energy levels where electrons are found around the nucleus.

  • What determines an atom's chemical behavior?

    The distribution of electrons in its electron shells, especially the number of valence electrons.

  • Define valence electrons.

    Electrons in the outermost shell that determine an atom's bonding capacity.

  • What is a covalent bond?

    A chemical bond formed by sharing a pair of valence electrons between two atoms.

  • Difference between nonpolar and polar covalent bonds?

    Nonpolar bonds share electrons equally; polar bonds share electrons unequally due to differences in electronegativity.

  • What is an ionic bond?

    An attraction between oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of electrons.

  • Define cation and anion.

    Cation: positively charged ion; Anion: negatively charged ion.

  • What are hydrogen bonds?

    Weak bonds where a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to one electronegative atom is attracted to another electronegative atom.

  • What are Van der Waals interactions?

    Weak attractions between molecules due to temporary uneven electron distributions.

  • How does molecular shape affect function?

    A molecule's size and shape determine how it recognizes and responds to other molecules.

  • What is a chemical reaction?

    The making and breaking of chemical bonds to convert reactants into products.

  • What is chemical equilibrium?

    When forward and reverse reactions occur at the same rate, and concentrations of reactants and products remain constant.

  • Write the photosynthesis chemical reaction.

    6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

  • What is the atomic mass of an atom?

    The sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

  • How to calculate the number of neutrons in an atom?

    Subtract the atomic number from the mass number: neutrons = mass number - atomic number.