Basics of Life
The basic unit of life
What is a cell?
Subatomic particle with a positive charge, located in the nucleus
What is a proton?
Water molecules are held together by these weak bonds
What are hydrogen bonds?
A neutral solution has this pH value
What is pH 7?
This element is unique because it always forms four covalent bonds
What is carbon?
Organisms that make their own food using carbon and energy
What are autotrophs?
A substance consisting of two or more different elements in a fixed ratio
What is a compound?
The property of water that allows it to “stick” to other water molecules
What is cohesion?
A strong base has a pH value between these numbers.
What are 13-14?
The ability of carbon to form four bonds is called this property
What is tetravalence?
The process of maintaining stable internal environments
Two atoms sharing electrons form this type of bond
What is a covalent bond?
Ice floats because hydrogen bonds make it ______ than liquid water
What is less dense?
Each step on the pH scale represents a change in H⁺ concentration by this factor.
What is 10?
Molecules with the same formula but different structures are called these
What are isomers?
Evidence for evolution includes direct observation, fossil record, and this structural similarity among organisms
What is homology?
Atoms with different numbers of neutrons but the same element
What are isotopes?
Water’s ability to absorb a lot of heat before changing temperature
What is high heat capacity?
Acids do this with protons (H⁺) when added to a solution
Long chains of carbon and hydrogen that can be saturated or unsaturated
What are hydrocarbons?
The 7 properties of life include order, regulation, reproduction, and this ability to interact with surroundings
What is environmental response?
The most common four elements in living organisms (96% of human body)
What are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON)?
Because of its polarity, water is often called this type of dissolving agent
What is a universal solvent?
The equation showing water dissociation: H₂O ⇄ ______ + OH⁻
What is H⁺?
These chemical components, such as hydroxyl, amino, or phosphate, give organic molecules their unique properties
What are functional groups?