BIO - TERMS - ACID Flashcards
(117 cards)
acid dissociation constant
The dissociation constant (Ka) of an acid, describing its dissociation into its conjugate base and a proton.
acid ionization constant (Ka)
The equilibrium constant for the ionization reaction of a weak acid; used to compare the relative strengths of weak acids.
acid-fast stain
A differential stain used to identify bacteria that are not decolorized by acid-alcohol.
acid–base reaction (neutralization reaction)
A reaction in which an acid reacts with a base and the two neutralize each other, producing water.
acid–base titration
A laboratory procedure in which a basic (or acidic) solution of unknown concentration reacts with an acidic (or basic) solution of known concentration in order to determine the concentration of the unknown.
acidic solution
A solution containing an acid that creates additional H3O+ ions, causing 3H3O+4 to increase.
algin
A sodium salt of mannuronic acid (C6H8O6); found in brown algae.
ampholyte
A substance that can act as either a base or an acid.
anaplerotic reaction
An enzyme-catalyzed reaction that can replenish the supply of intermediates in the citric acid cycle.
Anaplerotic reactions
Reactions that result in the net production of a tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediate.
Annealing
Formation of a double strand from two complementary nucleic acid strands.
Antioxidant defense
The whole biochemical system of the cell that decomposes reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species. It consists of enzymes including superoxide dismutase and peroxidases and low molecular mass molecules such as ascorbic acid and glutathione.
Arrhenius definitions (of acids and bases)
According to these definitions, an acid is defined as a substance that produces H+ ions in aqueous solution, and a base is defined as a substance that produces OH- ions in aqueous solution.
Arsenite
An inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase that binds to dihydrolipoic acid.
autoionization
The process by which water acts as an acid and a base with itself.
Base analogs
Unnatural purine or pyrimidine bases that differ slightly from the normal bases and that can be incorporated into nucleic acids. They are often mutagenic.
Base stacking
The noncovalent interaction between successive bases within a nucleic acid strand.
bi-orientation
The attachment of sister chromatids to opposite poles of the mitotic spindle, so that they move to opposite ends of the cell when they separate in anaphase. binding site Region on the surface of one molecule (usually a protein or nucleic acid) that can interact with another molecule through noncovalent bonding.
binary acid
An acid composed of hydrogen and a nonmetal.
Brønsted–Lowry base
A substance that accepts H1 from an acid.
Brønsted–Lowry definitions (of acids and bases)
According to these definitions, an acid is defined as a proton (H+ ion) donor and a base is defined as a proton acceptor.
buffer capacity
The amount of acid or base that can be added to a buffer without causing a large change in pH.
C6-C1-phenolics
Heterogenous collection of simple phenolic compounds derived from intermediates of the shikimate pathway. Examples include gallic acid and salicylic acid.
Cannizzaro reaction
The disproportionation reaction of an aldehyde on treatment with base to yield an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.