acid
A substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution.
activation energy
Energy needed to get a reaction started
Adhesion
An attraction between molecules of different substances
amino acids
building blocks of proteins
Atom
Basic unit of matter
Base
A substance that decreases the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.
Buffer
compound that prevents sharp, sudden changes in pH
Carbohydrates
the starches and sugars present in foods
catalyst
substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction
Cohesion
Attraction between molecules of the same substance
Compound
A substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds
covalent bond
A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule
Electron
A subatomic particle that has a negative charge
Element
A pure substance made of only one kind of atom
Enzymes
Catalysts for chemical reactions in living things
Homeostasis
A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level
hydrogen bond
weak attraction between a hydrogen atom and another atom
ion
A charged atom
ionic bond
Formed when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another
isotope
Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons
Lipid
Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Mixture
A combination of two or more substances that are not chemically combined
Molecule
A group of atoms bonded together
Monomer
A simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers
Monosaccharides
glucose, fructose, galactose
nucleic acid
macromolecule containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus
nucleotide
monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
Nucleus
Control center of the cell
pH scale
measurement system used to indicate the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in solution; ranges from 0 to 14
polarity
A lack of electrical symmetry in a molecule. Charge differences on opposite ends of a structure.
Polymer
A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.
product
A substance produced in a chemical reaction
Protein
A three dimensional polymer made of monomers of amino acids.
reactant
A chemical substance that is present at the start of a chemical reaction
Solute
A substance that is dissolved in a solution.
solution
A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances
Solvent
A liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances
Substrate
reactant of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction
Suspension
A mixture in which particles can be seen and easily separated by settling or filtration
van der Waals forces
a slight attraction that develops between the oppositely charged regions of nearby molecules
water
H2O