Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Cell biology and chemistry > Glossary > Flashcards

Glossary Flashcards

1
Q

Acid

A

A chemical that gives off hydrogen ions in water and forms salts by combining with certain metals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Acidosis

A

A condition where there is too. much acid in the body fluids. Blood pH less that 7.35

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Active transport

A

The movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane into a region of higher concentration, assisted by enzymes and requiring energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

alkali (or base)

A

A chemical that can dissolve in water, combine with acids to form salts and make acids less acidic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

amino acid

A

molecules that combine to form proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

anion

A

negatively charged ion, eg. one that would be attracted to the anode in electrolysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

aqueous

A

containing water, relating to or resembling water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

atom

A

smallest unit of matter that retains all chemical properties of an element

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

buffer

A

A solution that can resist pH change upon the addition of an acidic or basic component

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Cation

A

Positively charged ion, one that would be attracted to the cathode in electolysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Compound

A

A thing composed of two or more seperate elements (a mixture)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

condensation

A

The conversion of vapour (or gas) to a liquid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

disaccharide

A

Any substance that is composed of two molecules of simple sugars

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

diffusion

A

The intermingling of substances by the natural movement of their particles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

electrolyte

A

Substances that have a natural positive or negative electrical charge when dissolved in water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

electron

A

A negatively charged subatomic particle that can be either bound to an atom of free (not bound)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

element

A

a substance that can be broken down by non-nuclear reactions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

endocytosis

A

A process by which cells absorb external material by engulfing it with the cell membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

endothermic

A

characterised by or formed with absorption of heat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

enzyme

A

make actions happen more quickly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

evaporation

A

process of turning from liquid into vapour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

exocytosis

A

bulk transport of substances out of a cell, lipids/proteins are secreted by exocytosis, requires cellular energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

exothermic

A

a chemical reaction that releases heat/energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

facilitated diffusion

A

the movement of particles across cell membrane through carrier proteins (passive)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
half-life
The time taken for the number of radioactive particles of an isotope to decrease to half its original number, measure rate of decay
26
hydrocarbon
An organic molecule containing only hydrogen and carbon atoms
27
hydrolysis
the chemical breakdown of a molecule or compound by water
28
hydrophilic
attracts water, soluble in water eg. polar and/or ionic substances
29
hydrophobic
repels water, NOT soluble in water eg. non-polar substances, lipids
30
hypertonic
solution that is higher in concentration
31
hypotonic
solution that is lower in concentration
32
ion
charged particle created when atoms lose or gain electrons
33
isomer
compounds or molecules with the same chemical formula but different arrangement of atoms (different structure)
34
isotonic
solutions with the same concentration
35
isotope
atoms of the same element with different masses (due to differing number of neutrons)
36
latent heat
A measure of the amount of heat absorbed or released by a substance during a change of state
37
matter
Anything that has mass (eg. grams) and takes up space (eg. volume). All elements, compounds and mixtures are example of matter
38
mixture
A substance made up of two or more different elements/compounds that occupy the same space but are NOT chemically combined
39
molar mass
The mass of 1 molecule of a substance = formula mass in grams
40
molecule
two or more atoms chemically combined to form a stable nucleus
41
monosaccharide
A simple sugar eg. glucose, fructose, galactose containing only 1 sugar unit
42
neutral
has no charge
43
neutralisation
A chemical reaction occurring between acids and bases that forms water and a salt (both neutral products)
44
neutron
A particle in the nucleus of an atom that weighs the same as a proton but has NO charge (neutral)
45
non-polar
A covalent molecule that has no separation of positive and negative charges eg. electrons are equally shared/distributed Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic
46
osmosis
The passive movement of water through a semipermeable membrane following its own concentration gradient
47
passive transport
The movement of p[articles across a semi-permeable membrane that does NOT use cellular energy
48
phagocytosis
the process of 'cell eating' to absorb something into a large vesicle
49
pinocytosis
a type of endocytosis of fluids. 'cell drinking'
50
polar
a covalent molecule in which the electrons are unequal shared creating small charges. Polar molecules are soluble in water (hydrophilic)
51
Polymer
A very large molecule made up of lots of repeated units (monomers)
52
polysaccharide
A carbohydrate made up of a long chain of glucose molecules eg. starch, cellulose, glycogen
53
proton
positively charged particle in the atomic nucleus
54
radioisotope
An atom or isotope with an unstable nucleus that spontaneously decays and emits radiation
55
saturated
in organic molecules, the chemical bonds between C-C are all single bonds
56
solute
the smaller amount of solid, liquid or gas particles dissolved in a solvent
57
solution
A common type off mixture, contains a solute dissolved (small particles suspended) in a solvent
58
solvent
The larger amount of liquid or gas particles in which other particles are dissolved
59
specific heat capacity
A measure of the heat/energy needed to raise the temperature (kinetic energy of particles) by a given amount, usually 1 degree celsius
60
sublimation
The process of a change int eh state of matter from a solid to a gas without a liquid state
61
surface tension
the cohesion of water molecules;es to each other due to the polarity of water and formation of H-bonds
62
transcription
The process by which a gene in one strand of DNA is 'copied' by forming mRNA strand that carries the instructions for making a protein to ribosomes
63
translation
The process by which an mRNA strand is read and translated into the amino acid sequence for protein synthesis by a ribosome
64
unsaturated
An organic molecule that contains one or more double or triple C=C bonds

Cell biology and chemistry (15 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions