ChemistryofLife

__atoms__- smallest unit of an element that still has the chemical properties of the element
 * Chemistry**

__elements__- subtance that cannot be broken down chemically into simpiler substances

__molecules__- smallest unit into which can be subdivided and still have esential chemical properties

__ion__- An atom or a molecule that has aquired a positive ot negative charge form gaining or loosing electrons

__chemical bond (what are the two functions?)-__ one type forms when electrons move form one atom to another and is called an ionic bond. The other type is a covelant bond where two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons

__proton__- subatomic particle that it positively charged

__neutron__- subatomic particle that has neither a positive nor negative charge

__electron__- subatomic particle that has a negative charge

__nucleus__- central core of an atom containing protons and neutrons

__valence electrons__- Electrons in the last outer shell or energy level of an atom. Atoms with unfilled shells have a strong tendency to loose or gain electrons to comlete their outer shell.

__ionic vs covalent bonding__- Covelant bonds share a pair of electrons while ionic bonds are an attraction between oppositely charged ions

__hydrogen bonding__ - a weak chemical bond between a slightly positive hydrogen atom and a slightly negative hydrogen atom. Hydrogen bonds are found in organisms and involve hydrogen atoms that are bonded to oxygen or nitrogen.

__polar molecules-__ Polar molecules dissolve in water and their electrons are not shared equally

__Non-polar molecules-__ do not dissolve in water and their electrons are shared equally

__water solubility//-//__ the maximum amount of a substance that can dissolve in water.

__pH scale acid/base-__ A scale the measures the levels of H+ and OH- ions in a solution. A solution that has more H+ than OH- is acidic and has a pH level less than 7. A solution that has more OH- than H+ is basic and has a pH level greater than 7.

__reactants__- substance that goes into a reaction

__products-__ substance that is made by a chemical reaction

__enzymes-__ proteins or part protein molecules made by an oragnism and used as a catalyst in a specific biochemical reaction

__activation energy__- energy needed to start a chemical reaction

__active site-__ the portion of an enzyme that attaches to the substrate through weak chemical bonds.

__carbohydrates-__ Contain hydrogen and oxygen in the same two-to-one ratio as water. The simplist carbohydrates are single sugars called monosaccharides that have 3-7 carbon atoms in their carbon skeletons. Two monosaccharides can bond to form a disacchride, otherwise known as sucrose. Several glucose molecules can bond to form complex carbs called polysaccharides. Starch and cellulose are complex carbohydrates found in plant. Needed for plants food source and is in cell walls. Needed for human liver and muscles.

__proteins__ - Needed as structural components of cells as well as messengers abd recievers of messages between cells. Also help in defense against disease. Most important funstion is acting as enzymes for cell reactions. Building blocks are amino acids: small molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms.

__nucleic acids__ - Dictates amino acids sequense of proteins. Source of genetic information in chromosomes. Made of nucleotides that form long chains. Each nucleotide has 3 parts: sugar,phosphate, and nitrogen base. Nucleotides also contain ribonucleic acids called RNA and deoxyribonucleic acids called DNA. Four possible bases: adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine.

__lipids/fats__ - macromolecules that are used for long term energy storage and building structural parts of the cell membrane. Contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Building blocks are fatty acids called glycerol that make up simple fats in human bodies.

__dehydration synthesis__- "opposite of hydrolisis", removal of a H20 between two monomer resulting in a "chain" or polymer

__hydrolysis__- digestive glands supply enzymes to your stomach and intestines that break the bond between neighboring amino acids until the protein is completey decomposed.