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Chapter 2: The Chemical Context of Life Flashcards

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7534368951Matteranything that takes up space and has mass0
7534368952Elementany substance that cannot be broken down to any other substance1
7534368953Compounda substance consisting of two or more elements in a fixed ratio2
7534368954Trace Elementsan element indispensable for life but required in extremely minute amounts3
7534368955Atomthe smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element4
7534368956Neutronan electrically neutral particle (a particle having no electrical charge), found in the nucleus of an atom5
7534368957Electrona subatomic particle with a single negative charge; one or more electrons move around the nucleus of an atom6
7534368958Protona subatomic particle with a single positive electrical charge, found in the nucleus of an atom7
7534368959Atomic Nucleusan atom's central core, containing protons and neutrons8
7534368960Atomic 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 symbol9
7534368961Atomic Mass; Atomic Weightthe total mass of an atom, which is the mass in grams of one mole of the atom10
7534368962Mass Numberthe sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus11
7534368963Daltona measure of mass for atoms and subatomic particles12
7534368964Isotopeone of several atomic forms of an element, each containing a different number of neutrons and thus differing in atomic mass13
7534368965Radioactive Isotopean isotope that is unstable; the nucleus decays spontaneously, giving off detectable particles and energy14
7534368966Energythe capacity to do work (to move matter against an opposing force)15
7534368967Energy Levelsthe different states of potential energy for electrons in an atom16
7534368968Potential Energythe energy stored by matter as a result of its location or spatial arrangement17
7534368969Electron Shellan energy level representing the distance of an electron from the nucleus of an atom18
7534368970Valence Shellthe outermost energy shell of an atom, containing the valence electrons involved in the chemical reactions of that atom19
7534368971Valence Electronsthe electrons in the outermost electron shell20
7534368972Orbitalthe three-dimensional space where an electron is found 90% of the time21
7534368973Moleculetwo or more atoms held together by covalent bonds22
7534368974Single Bonda chemical bond in which one pair of electrons is shared between two atoms23
7534368975Chemical 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 shells24
7534368976Double Bonda chemical bond in which two pairs of electrons are shared between two atoms25
7534368977Nonpolar Covalent Bonda chemical bond in which two pairs of electrons are shared between two atoms26
7534368978Polar Covalent Bondthe shared electrons are pulled closer to the more electronegative atom, making it slightly negative and the other atom slightly positive27
7534368979Valencethe bonding capacity of an atom generally equal to the number of unpaired electrons in the atom's outermost shell28
7534368980Electronegativitythe attraction of an atom for the electrons of a covalent bond29
7534368981Cationan ion with a positive charge, produced by the loss of one or more electrons30
7534368982Aniona negatively charged ion31
7534368983Ionan atom that has gained or lost electrons, thus acquiring a charge32
7534368984Ionic Bonda chemical bond resulting from the attraction between oppositely charged ions33
7534368985Ionic Compoundcompounds resulting from the formation of ionic bonds; a salt34
7534368986Hydrogen 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 molecule35
7534368987Structural Formulaa type of molecular notation in which the constituent atoms are joined by lines representing covalent bonds36
7534368988Molecular Formulaa type of molecular notation indicating only the quantity of the constituent atoms37
7534368989van der Waals interactionsweak attractions between molecules or parts of molecules that are brought about by localized charge fluctuations38
7534368990Chemical Reactionsa process leading to chemical changes in matter; involves the making and/or breaking of chemical bonds39
7534368991Reactanta starting material in a chemical reaction40
7534368992Productan ending material in a chemical reaction41
7534368993Chemical Equilibriumin a reverse chemical reaction, the point at which the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction42

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