Biology Chapter 2- Atoms, Molecules, Properties of Water (2.1-2.2) Flashcards
truth
The way things really are; the whole of reality.
acid
Any substance that releases hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution.
adhesion
The tendency of one kind of substance to stick to another kind of substance due to intermolecular interactions.
base
Chemistry: a substance that removes hydrogen ions from a solution. - Biology: one of The four monomers that comprise DNA, giving rise to its genetic code. These bases are adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.
beta decay
A type of nuclear decay in which a neutron changes to a proton, changing the identity of the element.
bonds
The connection between two atoms as they combine, forming a compound. Consists of shared electrons of an electrostatic attraction due to transferred electrons.
cohesion
The tendency of molecules of the same kind to stick together due to intermolecular interactions.
covelant bonds
A type of chemical bond in which an electron pair is shared between two atoms.
denature
To lose 3-D structure and function of a protein, returning to its non-specific primary structure. (in the case of DNA: to break apart the hydrogen bonds becoming single stranded.) electronegativity
hydrogen bonds
A type of intermolecular interaction resulting from the extremely polar bonds that can form between hydrogen and highly electronegative elements (such as nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine).
intermolecular force
Are weaker electrostatic interactions that account for the physical properties of a substance, including hydrogen bonds and Van der Waal interactions
ionic bonds
A type of chemical bond wherein one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another. The resulting positive and negative charges cause these atoms to be attracted to one another, often forming a crystal lattice structure.
polar covelant bonds
A type of covelant bond in which an electron pair is shared unequally between two atoms of differing electronegativity.
radioactive isotope
An element that naturally decays into another element, releasing high energy electromagnetic radiation in the process.
radiocarbon dating
A method for measuring the amount of time since an organism died that uses the decay radioactive carbon-14 isotope.