Unit 1 - Chemistry of Life Flashcards
(124 cards)
What do all life on earth have in common?
they are all made of cells, atoms, and elements (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, + “sulfur”)
Ionic Bonding
a bond in which electrons are transferred from one element to another resulting in charged molecules (ions)
Cations
positively charged - lose electrons
Anions
negatively charged - gain electrons
Covalent Bonding
a bond in which electrons are shared between elements
Electronegativity
an atom with a strong pull on another atoms electrons which results in partial charge
Non Polar Covalent Bonds
equal sharing of electrons (hydrophobic)
Polar Covalent Bonds
unequal sharing of electrons because an electronegative atom will pull on another atoms electrons (H2O) - hydrophillic
We can tell if a molecule is polar because…
O, N, S, P are in the model because they cause the region of the molecule to be polar (hydrophillic) due to the high electronegativity of those elements
We can tell if a molecule is non-polar because…
long chains of carbons, and ringed carbon structures are non-polar (hydrophobic)
Nitrogen means that it is
polar and basic
Hydrogen Bonds
a weak attraction between a hydrogen atom and a partially charged negative atom (ex. between water molecules)
Hydrophilic
(lovesss waterr) mix with water (ex. NaCl, glucose)
Hydrophobic
(scared of water) does not mix with water (ex. CO2, O2)
Cohesion (think of astronaut video)
waters ability to stick to itself due to hydrogen bonds
Adhesion
waters ability to stick to polar and charged molecules
Heat Capacity
amount of energy it takes to change the temp of H2O so there are no large temp fluctuations
IMPORTANT for aquatic organisms
Water’s Heat Capacity
water has a high heat capacity which means it can hold a lot of heat without undergoing significant temp change due to the hydrogen bonds sticking together and stopping the molecules from moving faster
Heat of Vaporization
amount of heat needed to turn a liquid into a gas
Thermoregulation
how organisms maintain their body temperature within a healthy range.
How does Heat Of Vaporization help with thermoregulation?
sweating releases water onto the skin, as the water evaporates, it takes a lot of heat away from the body because of water’s high heat of vaporization.
This loss of heat cools the body down, helping to prevent overheating.
Transpiration
process by which water moves through plants and evaporates from small pores in the leaves, called stomata
How do cohesion and adhesion play a role in transpiration?
cohesion: allows water molecules to move up the tree
adhesion: prevents back-flow of water
Surface Tension
increased hydrogen bonding between water molecules at the surface