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Life Science > Life on This Rock: Section 2 > Flashcards

Life on This Rock: Section 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the best way to begin to understand complex things?

A

To understand the parts.

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2
Q

What is the smallest part of any living thing?

A

An atom or molecule.

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3
Q

What is the power supply for the planet?

A

The sun.

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4
Q

All life is based on chemistry. What is chemistry based on?

A

The interactions of atoms.

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5
Q

True or false? An electron microscope has the ability to examine small molecules and atoms.

A

False. The smallest things most electron microscopes can see are proteins and viruses.

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6
Q

What are the building block of chemicals and therefore, life?

A

Atoms.

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7
Q

What is the difference between protons and electrons?

A

Protons are positively charged particles that carry mass. Electrons carry no mass and are negatively charged.

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8
Q

What is a neutron?

A

Particles that have the same mass as protons, but carry no charge.

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9
Q

What kinds of particles are in the nucleus of the atom?

A

Protons and neutrons.

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10
Q

What kinds of particles orbit the nucleus?

A

Electrons.

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11
Q

How do you find the atomic mass of an atom?

A

Adding the sum of the protons and neutrons.

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12
Q

What are elements?

A

Substances that consist of one type of atom.

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13
Q

How many naturally occurring elements are there in the world?

A

92

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14
Q

Name the top six elements that make up the bodies of living creatures in order.

A

Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorous.

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15
Q

True or false? The atoms of non-living things follow the same basic rules as those of living things.

A

True.

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16
Q

What particles have behavior that dictates the interactions of atoms?

A

Electrons.

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17
Q

True or false? The charge of a proton can occasionally attract or repulse another atom.

A

True.

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18
Q

What kind of state do atoms try to achieve?

A

A stable one.

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19
Q

What is the orbit of an electron around a nucleus called?

A

The shell.

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20
Q

What is the combination of all shells around a nucleus called?

A

The electron cloud.

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21
Q

How many electrons can the first shell of an atom contain?

A

2

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22
Q

How many electrons can every shell of an atom hold outside of the first?

A

8

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23
Q

When is an atom stable?

A

When its outermost shell is filled.

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24
Q

How will atoms attempt to balance their outer shell?

A

They will shed electrons or take electrons form other atoms.

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25
Q

What is the official term for the outermost shell of an atom?

A

The valence shell.

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26
Q

How do you find the charge of an atom?

A

You subtract the number of electrons from the number of protons.

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27
Q

What is matter?

A

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

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28
Q

What is an isotope?

A

Atoms of the same element that differ only in the number of neutrons.

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29
Q

Are isotopes stable? What do many isotopes emit?

A

They are not stable. They may emit radiation.

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30
Q

What is the name for a charged particle?

A

Ion.

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31
Q

True or false? The interior of the atom does not participate in bond formation.

A

True.

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32
Q

What does an atom no longer do if its valence shell is filled?

A

React.

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33
Q

What is the atomic number?

A

The number of electrons and protons in an element.

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34
Q

What are the rows on the periodic table called?

A

Periods.

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35
Q

What are the columns on the periodic table called?

A

Groups.

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36
Q

What is an ionic bond?

A

When two atoms are attracted to each other because they have a positive and negative charge.

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37
Q

Do metals form cations or anions?

A

Cations.

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38
Q

Do non-metals form anions or cations?

A

Anions.

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39
Q

What is a covalent bond?

A

When atoms share electrons to fill each other’s valence shell.

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40
Q

How does carbon gain a full outer shell?

A

By sharing electrons.

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41
Q

What does a subscript (small letter) after an atomic symbol denote?

A

How many atoms of that element are in that molecule.

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42
Q

What is a molecule?

A

A combination of atoms via ionic or covalent bonds.

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43
Q

What is the chemical symbol for methane?

A

CH4

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44
Q

True or false? An atom will always go for the easiest way to fill its valence shell.

A

True.

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45
Q

Can molecules form from the same types of atoms?

A

Yes.

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46
Q

Complete the phrase. Atoms with similar valence numbers will behave similarly regardless of the number of ______.

A

Inner shells.

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47
Q

Elements in the same ____ will behave similarly.

A

Group.

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48
Q

The interactions atoms will have with other atoms can be predicted by looking at their ______.

A

Valence electrons.

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49
Q

Why are chemical reactions often depicted as equations?

A

Reactants come in, and products go out. An equation shows how this occurs.

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50
Q

Is H2O two covalent or ionic bonds?

A

Covalent.

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51
Q

Why don’t noble gases often interact with other atoms?

A

Because their valence shell is already full.

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52
Q

Why do water molecules cling together and bead up on a dry surface?

A

Because it is a polar molecule with a positive end and a negative end.

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53
Q

What is an adhesive molecule?

A

A polar molecule that clings to other surfaces that are polar.

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54
Q

How do plants use the properties of water to survive?

A

Water evaporates on their leaves and as that happens, they pull water up through the stem. This in turn pulls water from the ground and through the roots.

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55
Q

What kind of bond is the attractive forces between water molecules?

A

Hydrogen bond.

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56
Q

Whether a substance is liquid, solid, or gaseous depends on the substance’s ______ and _______.

A

Molecular properties; the local temperature.

57
Q

What happens to water as it freezes?

A

It expands.

58
Q

Why would lake ecosystems be dramatically different if water did not expand when it froze?

A

Lakes would freeze from the bottom up, killing plants.

59
Q

How does ice on the surface help organisms in a lake or pond?

A

It provides insulation and keeps the water below warmer.

60
Q

Why do deserts get extremely cold at night?

A

Because there is no water in the air to retain the days heat and release it slowly during the night.

61
Q

How does sweating keep us cool?

A

The water absorbs heat from our bodies.

62
Q

Why does salt dissolve very fast in water?

A

The positive sodium ion is attracted to the negative side of water, whereas the negative chlorine ion is attracted to the positive side of water.

63
Q

Why does salt cause water to heat faster?

A

Due to the unique attraction, the ions disrupt hydrogen bonds that would usually require more heating to be disrupted.

64
Q

What does evaporation require in regards to hydrogen bonds?

A

All the hydrogen bonds to be broken simultaneously.

65
Q

Water is constantly ______ and ______ hydrogen bonds.

A

Forming; breaking.

66
Q

While constantly forming and breaking hydrogen bonds, what does some of the water continuously split into?

A

Free hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxyl ions (OH-)

67
Q

What happens when the free hydrogen ions in water encounter another water molecule?

A

They can displace one of the hydrogen ions. (Think changing partners in a square dance)

68
Q

What are all the elements in the middle of the periodic table called?

A

Transition metals.

69
Q

Why is ion displacement of little consequence in pure water?

A

There are equivalent numbers of each ion.

70
Q

What happens to the balance of H+ and OH- ions when other molecules are dissolved in water?

A

An excess of one or the other can occur.

71
Q

An excess of H+ ions generates what kind of conditions?

A

Acidic.

72
Q

An excess of OH- ions generates what kind of conditions?

A

Basic.

73
Q

What happens if hydrogen chloride is added to water?

A

It splits into H+ and Cl-, creating a higher concentration of H+ and making acidic conditions.

74
Q

What happens if sodium hydroxide is added to water?

A

It splits onto Na+ and OH- ions, creating a higher concentration of OH- and basic conditions.

75
Q

Any ion will try to interact with molecules of _____.

A

An opposing charge.

76
Q

Why do H+ ions have such a great ability to interact with other molecules?

A

Because they have no electrons and are essentially just a naked proton.

77
Q

What are organic molecules?

A

Molecules that make up living things.

78
Q

What do many organic molecules have?

A

Exposed regions with a negative or partially negative charge.

79
Q

Why do many organic molecules have the property of being able to easily attract?

A

So they can form cells and tissues.

80
Q

What kind of acid is stomach acid?

A

Hydrochloric acid.

81
Q

How do ulcers form?

A

When the mucus lining of the stomach is too weak, the hydrochloric acid begins to burn it.

82
Q

True or false? Hydrochloric acid causes heartburn.

A

True.

83
Q

What is the chemical name for Tums?

A

Calcium chloride.

84
Q

How does Tums stop heartburn?

A

It dissolves in your stomach into Ca+ and Cl- ions and the Cl- ions combine with the H+ in your stomach.

85
Q

Why do acids burn?

A

They deplete the OH- ions within our cells.

86
Q

How do bases injure cells?

A

They deplete the H+ ions in our cells.

87
Q

What is the amount of acidity in a solution called?

A

pH (Power of hydrogen ions)

88
Q

What does pure water have a pH of?

A

7

89
Q

What is the pH of human blood?

A

7.4

90
Q

What causes blood to be a basic solution?

A

Dissolved substances taken from cells and tissues.

91
Q

True or false? Blood contains buffers.

A

True.

92
Q

What are buffers?

A

Compounds that can absorb OH- or H+ to keep a stable pH.

93
Q

Why are we not as affected by acid rain as marine animals?

A

Their gills and tissues are directly exposed to the water.

94
Q

True or false? All aquatic organisms are fairly resistant to changes in water pH.

A

False. Only larger fish are. Aquatic plants, smaller fish, and invertebrates are not.

95
Q

How does acid rain happen?

A

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide ions combine with vapor and oxygen to form acids. These acids then come back down as rain.

96
Q

What is the pH of normal rainwater?

A

5.3

97
Q

Does acid rain raise or lower the pH of rivers and lakes?

A

Lower.

98
Q

True or false? Extreme acid rain can destroy land plants.

A

True.

99
Q

The unique properties of _______ make it a central element in life.

A

Carbon.

100
Q

How many valence electrons does carbon have?

A

Four.

101
Q

Why does carbon usually form covalent bonds rather than ionic?

A

It is hard to take on or shed four electrons, but sharing is easy.

102
Q

Can carbon form covalent bonds with itself?

A

Yes.

103
Q

Why is carbon unique compared to oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen?

A

It can form long chains.

104
Q

Why is carbon such a stable structure?

A

It forms rings.

105
Q

Chemistry can be seperated into ______ and ______ chemistry.

A

Inorganic; organic.

106
Q

Organic chemistry refers to the study of molecules primarily composed of ______ and _______.

A

Carbon; hydrogen.

107
Q

What element do inorganic molecules not contain?

A

Carbon.

108
Q

What does “organic” refer to when applied to crops, rather than chemistry?

A

It indicates crops that wee grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.

109
Q

Besides the carbon base, what are the interactions of organic molecules based on?

A

Their functional groups.

110
Q

What are function groups?

A

Regions of organic molecules that contain atoms besides carbon.

111
Q

What is a hydrocarbon chain?

A

A carbon skeleton surrounded by hydrogens with no functional groups.

112
Q

Is a hydrocarbon chain a polar molecule?

A

No.

113
Q

Why are pure hydrocarbon chains insoluble in water?

A

The presence of polar functional groups is what allows molecules to dissolve in water.

114
Q

What are the four groups of biological molecules?

A

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

115
Q

What do nucleic acids make up?

A

Our genetic material.

116
Q

What are monomers?

A

Molecules that can join with other similar molecules to form chains.

117
Q

What are polymers?

A

Long chains/assemblies of monomers.

118
Q

How are polymers both formed and broken down?

A

Water interacts with their functional groups.

119
Q

What is a dehydration reaction?

A

Formation of a polymer via the removal of a water molecule.

120
Q

What is hydrolysis?

A

Dissociation of a polymer by adding water molecules.

121
Q

What is the single most important molecule on earth?

A

Water.

122
Q

What is the percentage range for how much of an organism is comprised of water?

A

70 - 90%

123
Q

What are some properties of water that support life?

A

Solvency, cohesion and adhesion, high surface tension, high heat capacity, high heat of vaporization, and varying density.

124
Q

Do water molecules cling more tightly to each other, or the air above?

A

Each other.

125
Q

Why do water molecules cling so tightly together?

A

Hydrogen bonds.

126
Q

What is the difference between a solvent and a solute?

A

A solute gets dissolved, a solvent does the dissolving.

127
Q

Why don’t oil and water mix?

A

Oil is not polar.

128
Q

What are carbohydrates comprised of?

A

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

129
Q

Carbohydrate monomers are ______, which we metabolize for quick energy.

A

Simple sugars.

130
Q

True or false? Carbohydrate monomers can be assembled into polymers for long-term energy storage.

A

True.

131
Q

Why do simple sugars easily dissolve?

A

They have numerous OH- groups.

132
Q

How is the energy released from carbohydrates?

A

By breaking them down.

133
Q

How do complex sugars release energy?

A

By breaking them down into monomers.

134
Q

What is glycogen?

A

A short-term storage form for glucose.

135
Q

What is the scientific term for sugar molecules?

A

Saccharides.

136
Q

What are single-saccharides called?

A

Monosaccharides.

137
Q

What are polymer saccharides called?

A

Polysaccharides.

138
Q

What is the storage molecule within plants called?

A

Starch.

Life Science (5 decks)

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