2.6: Key Terms
- Page ID
- 108182
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| Words (or words that have the same definition) | The definition is case sensitive | (Optional) Image to display with the definition [Not displayed in Glossary, only in pop-up on pages] | (Optional) Caption for Image | (Optional) External or Internal Link | (Optional) Source for Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Eg. "Genetic, Hereditary, DNA ...") | (Eg. "Relating to genes or heredity") |  | The infamous double helix | https://bio.libretexts.org/ | CC-BY-SA; Delmar Larsen |
| Word(s) | Definition | Image | Caption | Link | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| acid | compound that releases hydrogen ions (H+) in solution | ||||
| activation energy | amount of energy greater than the energy contained in the reactants, which must be overcome for a reaction to proceed | ||||
| adenosine triphosphate (ATP) | nucleotide containing ribose and an adenine base that is essential in energy transfer | ||||
| amino acid | building block of proteins; characterized by an amino and carboxyl functional groups and a variable side-chain | ||||
| anion | atom with a negative charge | ||||
| atom | smallest unit of an element that retains the unique properties of that element | ||||
| atomic number | number of protons in the nucleus of an atom | ||||
| base | compound that accepts hydrogen ions (H+) in solution | ||||
| bond | electrical force linking atoms | ||||
| buffer | solution containing a weak acid or a weak base that opposes wide fluctuations in the pH of body fluids | ||||
| carbohydrate | class of organic compounds built from sugars, molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1-2-1 ratio | ||||
| catalyst | substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself being changed in the process | ||||
| cation | atom with a positive charge | ||||
| chemical energy | form of energy that is absorbed as chemical bonds form, stored as they are maintained, and released as they are broken | ||||
| colloid | liquid mixture in which the solute particles consist of clumps of molecules large enough to scatter light | ||||
| compound | substance composed of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds | ||||
| concentration | number of particles within a given space | ||||
| covalent bond | chemical bond in which two atoms share electrons, thereby completing their valence shells | ||||
| decomposition reaction | type of catabolic reaction in which one or more bonds within a larger molecule are broken, resulting in the release of smaller molecules or atoms | ||||
| denaturation | change in the structure of a molecule through physical or chemical means | ||||
| deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) | deoxyribose-containing nucleotide that stores genetic information | ||||
| disaccharide | pair of carbohydrate monomers bonded by dehydration synthesis via a glycosidic bond | ||||
| disulfide bond | covalent bond formed within a polypeptide between sulfide groups of sulfur-containing amino acids, for example, cysteine | ||||
| electron | subatomic particle having a negative charge and nearly no mass; found orbiting the atom’s nucleus | ||||
| electron shell | area of space a given distance from an atom’s nucleus in which electrons are grouped | ||||
| element | substance that cannot be created or broken down by ordinary chemical means | ||||
| enzyme | protein or RNA that catalyzes chemical reactions | ||||
| exchange reaction | type of chemical reaction in which bonds are both formed and broken, resulting in the transfer of components | ||||
| functional group | group of atoms linked by strong covalent bonds that tends to behave as a distinct unit in chemical reactions with other atoms | ||||
| hydrogen bond | dipole-dipole bond in which a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom is weakly attracted to a second electronegative atom | ||||
| inorganic compound | substance that does not contain both carbon and hydrogen | ||||
| ion | atom with an overall positive or negative charge | ||||
| ionic bond | attraction between an anion and a cation | ||||
| isotope | one of the variations of an element in which the number of neutrons differ from each other | ||||
| kinetic energy | energy that matter possesses because of its motion | ||||
| lipid | class of nonpolar organic compounds built from hydrocarbons and distinguished by the fact that they are not soluble in water | ||||
| macromolecule | large molecule formed by covalent bonding | ||||
| mass number | sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom | ||||
| matter | physical substance; that which occupies space and has mass | ||||
| molecule | two or more atoms covalently bonded together | ||||
| monosaccharide | monomer of carbohydrate; also known as a simple sugar | ||||
| neutron | heavy subatomic particle having no electrical charge and found in the atom’s nucleus | ||||
| nucleotide | class of organic compounds composed of one or more phosphate groups, a pentose sugar, and a base | ||||
| organic compound | substance that contains both carbon and hydrogen | ||||
| peptide bond | covalent bond formed by dehydration synthesis between two amino acids | ||||
| periodic table of the elements | arrangement of the elements in a table according to their atomic number; elements having similar properties because of their electron arrangements compose columns in the table, while elements having the same number of valence shells compose rows in the table | ||||
| pH | negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion (H+) concentration of a solution | ||||
| phospholipid | a lipid compound in which a phosphate group is combined with a diglyceride | ||||
| phosphorylation | addition of one or more phosphate groups to an organic compound | ||||
| polar molecule | molecule with regions that have opposite charges resulting from uneven numbers of electrons in the nuclei of the atoms participating in the covalent bond | ||||
| polysaccharide | compound consisting of more than two carbohydrate monomers bonded by dehydration synthesis via glycosidic bonds | ||||
| potential energy | stored energy matter possesses because of the positioning or structure of its components | ||||
| product | one or more substances produced by a chemical reaction | ||||
| prostaglandin | lipid compound derived from fatty acid chains and important in regulating several body processes | ||||
| protein | class of organic compounds that are composed of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds | ||||
| proton | heavy subatomic particle having a positive charge and found in the atom’s nucleus | ||||
| purine | nitrogen-containing base with a double ring structure; adenine and guanine | ||||
| pyrimidine | nitrogen-containing base with a single ring structure; cytosine, thiamine, and uracil | ||||
| radioactive isotope | unstable, heavy isotope that gives off subatomic particles, or electromagnetic energy, as it decays; also called radioisotopes | ||||
| reactant | one or more substances that enter into the reaction | ||||
| ribonucleic acid (RNA) | ribose-containing nucleotide that helps manifest the genetic code as protein | ||||
| solution | homogeneous liquid mixture in which a solute is dissolved into molecules within a solvent | ||||
| steroid | (also, sterol) lipid compound composed of four hydrocarbon rings bonded to a variety of other atoms and molecules | ||||
| substrate | reactant in an enzymatic reaction | ||||
| suspension | liquid mixture in which particles distributed in the liquid settle out over time | ||||
| synthesis reaction | type of anabolic reaction in which two or more atoms or molecules bond, resulting in the formation of a larger molecule | ||||
| triglyceride | lipid compound composed of a glycerol molecule bonded with three fatty acid chains | ||||
| valence shell | outermost electron shell of an atom |