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AP Biology - Chapter 02 (The Chemical Context of Life) Flashcards

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191325847anionA negatively charged ion.0
191325848atomThe smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element.1
191325849atomic massThe total mass of an atom, which is the mass in grams of one mole of the atom.2
191325850atomic nucleusAn atom's central core, containing protons and neutrons.3
191325851atomic numberThe number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, unique for each element and designated by a subscript to the left of the elemental symbol.4
191325852cationAn ion with a positive charge, produced by the loss of one or more electrons.5
191325853chemical bondAn attraction between two atoms, resulting from a sharing of outer-shell electrons or the presence of opposite charges on the atoms. The bonded atoms gain complete outer electron shells.6
191325854chemical equilibriumIn a reversible chemical reaction, the point at which the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction.7
191325855chemical reactionA process leading to chemical changes in matter; involves the making and/or breaking of chemical bonds.8
191325856compoundA substance consisting of two or more elements in a fixed ratio.9
191325857covalent bondA type of strong chemical bond in which two atoms share one or more pairs of valence electrons.10
191325858daltonA measure of mass for atoms and subatomic particles.11
191325859electronA subatomic particle with a single negative charge. One or more electrons move around the nucleus of an atom.12
191325860electron shellAn energy level represented as the distance of an electron from the nucleus of an atom.13
191325861electronegativityThe attraction of an atom for the electrons of a covalent bond.14
191325862elementAny substance that cannot be broken down to any other substance.15
191325863energyThe capacity to do work (to move matter against an opposing force).16
191325864energy levelAny of several different states of potential energy for electrons in an atom.17
191325865hydrogen bondA type of weak chemical bond formed when the slightly positive hydrogen atom of a polar covalent bond in one molecule is attracted to the slightly negative atom of a polar covalent bond in another molecule.18
191325866ionAn atom that has gained or lost electrons, thus acquiring a charge.19
191325867ionic bondA chemical bond resulting from the attraction between oppositely charged ions.20
191325868ionic compoundA compound resulting from the formation of an ionic bond; also called a salt.21
191325869isotopeOne of several atomic forms of an element, each containing a different number of neutrons and thus differing in atomic mass.22
191325870mass numberThe sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.23
191325871matterAnything that takes up space and has mass.24
191325872molecular formulaA type of molecular notation indicating only the quantity of the constituent atoms.25
191325873moleculeTwo or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.26
191325874neutronAn electrically neutral particle (a particle having no electrical charge), found in the nucleus of an atom.27
191325875nonpolar covalent bondA type of covalent bond in which electrons are shared equally between two atoms of similar electronegativity.28
191325876orbitalThe three-dimensional space where an electron is found 90% of the time.29
191325877periodic table of the elementsA chart of the chemical elements, arranged in three rows, corresponding to the number of electron shells in their atoms.30
191325878polar covalent bondA covalent bond between atoms that differ in electronegativity. The shared electrons are pulled closer to the more electronegative atom, making it slightly negative and the other atom slightly positive.31
191325879potential energyThe energy stored by matter as a result of its location or spatial arrangement.32
191325880productAn ending material in a chemical reaction.33
191325881protonA subatomic particle with a single positive electrical charge, found in the nucleus of an atom.34
191325882radioactive isotopeAn isotope (an atomic form of a chemical element) that is unstable; the nucleus decays spontaneously, giving off detectable particles and energy.35
191325883reactantA starting material in a chemical reaction.36
191325884saltA compound resulting from the formation of an ionic bond; also called an ionic compound.37
191325885structural formulaA type of molecular notation in which the constituent atoms are joined by lines representing covalent bonds.38
191325886trace elementAn element indispensable for life but required in extremely minute amounts.39
191325887valenceThe bonding capacity of an atom, generally equal to the number of unpaired electrons in the atom's outermost shell.40
191325888valence electronAn electron in the outermost electron shell.41
191325889valence shellThe outermost energy shell of an atom, containing the valence electrons involved in the chemical reactions of that atom.42
191325890van der Waals interactionsWeak attractions between molecules or parts of molecules that are brought about by localized charge fluctuations.43

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