Chemistry Of Life Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is a cation?
Positive ions formed by losing electrons.
What is an anion?
Negative ions formed by gaining electrons.
What does hydrophilic mean?
A substance that readily forms hydrogen bonds with water and can dissolve in water.
What does hydrophobic mean?
A substance that is water-fearing or insoluble in water due to being nonpolar.
What is a solvent?
A substance that dissolves other substances, with water being the most common solvent.
What is cohesion?
The property that allows water to stay above the glass due to intermolecular forces.
What is adhesion?
The property related to the attraction between water molecules and other substances.
What is the pH scale?
A measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.
What are acids?
Substances that provide hydrogen ions (H⁺) and lower pH.
What are bases?
Substances that provide hydroxide ions (OH⁻) and raise pH.
What are buffers?
Substances that help maintain a stable pH in a solution.
What are macromolecules?
Large molecules that are essential for life, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
What is a carbohydrate?
A type of macromolecule that is a primary source of energy for living organisms.
What is a lipid?
A type of macromolecule that is hydrophobic and serves as a long-term energy storage.
