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bio vocab chapter 3
biologly
29
Biology
9th Grade
02/01/2013

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Term
atom
Definition
the smallest unit of an element that maintains the chemical properties of that element.
Term
element
Definition
a substance that cannot be separated or broken down into simpler substances by chemical means; all atoms of an element have the same atomic number.
Term
valence electron
Definition
an electron that is found in the outermost shell of an atom and that determines the atom's chemical properties.
Term
compound
Definition
a substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds.
Term
molecule
Definition
a group of atoms that are held together by chemical forces; a molecule is the smallest unit of matter that can exist by itself and retain all of a substance's chemical properties.
Term
ion
Definition
an atom, radical, or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons and has a negative or positive charge.
Term
Cohesion
Definition
the force that holds molecules of a single material together.
Term
adhesion
Definition
the attractive force between two bodies of different substances that are in contact with each other.
Term
solution
Definition
a homogeneous mixture throughout which two or more substances are uniformly dispersed.
Term
acid
Definition
any compound that increases the number of hydronium ions when dissolved in water; acids turn blue litmus paper red and react with bases and some metals to form salts.
Term
bases
Definition
any compound that increases the number of hydroxide ions when dissolved in water; bases turn red litmus paper blue and react with acids to form salts.
Term
pH
Definition
a value that is used to express the acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of a system.
Term
buffer
Definition
a solution made from a weak acid and its conjugate base that neutralizes small amounts of acids or bases added to it.
Term
carbohydrate
Definition
a class of molecules that includes sugars, starches, and fiber; contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Term
lipid
Definition
a fat molecule or a molecule that has similar properties; examples include oils, waxes, and steroids.
Term
protein
Definition
an organic compound that is made of one or more chains of amino acids and that is a principal component of all cells.
Term
amino acid
Definition
a compound of a class of simple organic compounds that contain a carboxyl group and an amino group and that combine to form proteins.
Term
nucleic acid
Definition
an organic compound, either RNA or DNA, whose molecules are made up of one or two chains of nucleotides and carry genetic information.
Term
nucleotide
Definition
an organic compound that consists of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base; the basic building block of a nucleic-acid chain.
Term
DNA
Definition
deoxyribonucleic acid, the material that contains the information that determines inherited characteristics.
Term
RNA
Definition
ribonucleic acid, a natural polymer that is present in all living cells and that plays a role in protein synthesis.
Term
APT
Definition
adenosine triphosphate, an organic molecule that acts as the main energy source for cell processes; composed of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and three phosphate groups.
Term
energy
Definition
the capacity to do work.
Term
reactant
Definition
a substance or molecule that participates in a chemical reaction.
Term
product
Definition
a substance that forms in a chemical reaction.
Term
activation energy
Definition
the minimum amount of energy required to start a chemical reaction.
Term
enzyme
Definition
a molecule, either protein or RNA, that acts as a catalyst in biochemical reactions.
Term
substrate
Definition
a part, substance, or element that lies beneath and supports another part, substance, or element; the reactant in reactions catalyzed by enzymes.
Term
active site
Definition
on an enzyme, the site that attaches to a substrate.
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