Chapter 2 Test Notes
● Democritus: an ancient Greek philosopher best known for his atomic theory, which
proposed that the universe is composed of tiny, indivisible, and eternally moving particles
called atoms separated by a void
● Subatomic particles, their charges and locations in the atom: proton which is
positively charged and located in the nucleus; the neutron, which is neutral (no charge)
and also located in the nucleus; and the electron, which is negatively charged and orbits
the nucleus in a region called the electron cloud.
● Isotopes: an atom of a chemical element that has the same number of protons but a
different number of neutrons compared to other atoms of the same element
● Radioactive isotope uses: as tracers to study metabolic pathways, DNA and protein
synthesis, and the fate of substances in the body, enabling diagnostic imaging and
therapeutic applications
● Chemical bonds types, differences, valence electrons: three main types: ionic,
where electrons are shared, Covalent bonds atoms share pairs of balance electrons to
achieve a stable electron configuration, Metallic bond valence electrons from metal
atoms are delocalized, meaning they are not tied to any single atom.
● Compounds and Molecules: A molecule is any electrically neutral group of two or more
atoms held together by chemical bonds, which can be of the same or different elements.
A compound is a substance formed when two or more different types of atoms
chemically bond in a fixed proportion. All compounds are molecules, but not all
molecules are compounds
● Density: cellular density the mass of cells per unit volume
● Suspension, solution, colloids: a solution is a homogeneous mixture where solute
particles are completely dissolved and do not settle. A colloid is a heterogeneous mixture
where particles are suspended but do not settle, appearing cloudy and scattering light
like milk or jelly. A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture with larger particles that
eventually settle out, such as mud in water or some liquid medications that require
shaking
● pH: scale measuring the acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous solution defined
mathematically as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration.
● Parts of chemical reactions: the reactants (the starting substances) and the products
(the substances formed)
● Biomolecules-structure, monomers, and function: Monosaccharides for
carbohydrates, fatty acids and glycerol for lipids, amino acids for proteins, and
nucleotides for nucleic acids
● polymerization-dehydration synthesis: the chemical process where individual
monomer subunits are joined together by covalent bonds to form larger polymer chains
(like proteins, nucleic acids, and complex carbohydrates) through the removal of a water
molecule from the reactants
● Enzymes: a protein (or, rarely, and RNA molecule called a ribozyme) that acts as a
biological catalyst, speeding up specific chemical reactions necessary for life without
being consumed in the process
● Properties of water: its polarity, which allows it to form hydrogen bonds and act as an
excellent solvent for polar and ionic substances. They form weak bonds together called
hydrogen bonds
● Subatomic particles that make up atoms are protons, neutrons and electrons.
● The physical and chemical properties of a compound are usually very different from
those of the elements from which it is formed
● The main types of chemical bonds are ionic bonds and covalent bonds
● Because water is a polar molecule, it is able to form multiple hydrogen bonds, which
account for many of water’s special properties
● Water’s polarity gives it the ability to dissolve both ionic compounds and other polar
molecules
● Buffers dissolved in life’s fluids play an important role in maintaining homeostasis
● Carbon can bond with many elements including hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur,
and nitrogen, to form compounds with many different chemical properties
● Organisms use carbohydrates to store and release energy, as well for structural support
and protection
● Lipids can be used to store energy, and they form important parts of biological
membranes and waterproof coverings
● Nucleic acids store and transmit hereditary, or genetic, information
● Some proteins function to control the rate of reactions and regulate cell process Others
form important cellular structures, while still others transport substances into or out of
cells or help to fight disease
● Chemical reactions involve changes in the chemical bonds that join atoms in compounds
● Chemical reactions that release energy often occur on their own, or spontaneously.
Chemical reactions that absorb energy require a source of energy
● The role of enzymes is to speed up chemical reactions that take place in cells