biochemistry

atom - the smallest unit of matter that cannot be broken down by chemical means

element - a substance made up of atoms that have the same number of protons

valence electrons - electrons in the outermost level, or shell

compound - a substance made of the bonded atoms of two or more different elements

molecule - a group of atoms held together by covalent bonds

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ion - an atom or group of atoms that has an electric charge because it has gained or lost electrons

cohesion - the attraction of particles of the same substance

adhesion - attraction between particles of different substances

solution - is a mixture in which ions or molecules of one or more substances are evenly distributed in another substance

acid - are compounds that form extra hydronium ions when dissolved in water

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

base - compounds that form extra hydroxide ions when dissolved in water

pH - a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is

buffer - a substance that reacts to prevent pH changes in a solution

carbohydrate - molecules made of sugars (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, ratio 1:2:1)

liqid - another class of biomolecules, which includes fats, phospholipids, steroids, and waxes

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

protein - a molecule made up of amino acids

amino acid - building blocks that link to form proteins

nucleic acid - a long chain of nucleotide units

nucleotide - a molecule made up of three parts: a sugar, a base, and a phosphate group

DNA - the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

RNA - a nucleic acid present in all living cells that has structural similarities to DNA

ATP - an important “energy molecule” found in all life forms

energy - the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity

reactant - the substances which participate in a chemical reaction

product - a substance that is formed as the result of a chemical reaction

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

activation energy - the minimum amount of energy that is required to activate atoms or molecules to a condition in which they can undergo chemical transformation or physical transport

enzyme - a substance that acts as a catalyst in living organisms
active site - the region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction

substrate - the surface on which an organism grows or is attached in biology