Vocab Meaning/role info

Atom The fundamental building Form by 3 subatomic

blocks of matter particles: protons, neutrons,
electrons

Proton Positively charged particles,

located in the nucleus of the
atom

Neutron a part of an atom that has no

electrical charge

Electron the part of an atom with a Located in the electron cloud

negative electrical charge,
which moves around the
atom's nucleus.

Nucleus the central part of an atom, proton+neutron=nucleus

usually made up of protons
and neutrons

Isotope Atoms of the same element Example: Carbon-12,

with different numbers of Carbon-14
neutrons

Atomic indivisible particles that can't -​ Atomic number = the

be destroyed or created number of proton
through chemical reactions
-​ Atomic mass =
proton + neutron

Element A pure substance that -​ Cannot be broken

consists of entirely type of down by any physical
atom or chemical means
into simpler
substances

Chemical Compund A substance made of two or Water (H₂O), Salt (NaCl)

more elements chemically
combined

Ionic bond Transfer of electrons NaCl

between atoms
-​ Ionic bonds form
It’s like giving away a jacket between a metal and
 to someone who is cold a nonmetal
(electron transfer)

Covalent bond Sharing of electrons between -​ These shared

atoms electrons provide the
attractive force
It’s like sharing a blanket so holding the atoms tgt.
both stay warm
-​ Breaking or forming
ionic or covalent
bonds results in new
substances

-​ Covalent bonds form

between two
nonmetals

molecule Group of 2 or more atoms -​ Smallest unit of

chemically bonded tgt compound

-​ Held Together by
Covalent Bonds

-​ Can be an element
compound

Van der Waals forces Van der Waals forces are

weak attractions between Dipole-Dipole Interactions
molecules. They are much
weaker than ionic or ●​ Occur between polar
covalent bonds molecules that have
permanent positive
and negative
regions.
●​ Example: Water (H₂O)
molecules attract each
other due to the
polarity of oxygen and
hydrogen.

Hydrogen bond A weak type of force that Water molecules

forms a special type of
dipole-dipole attraction

The attraction between a

hydrogen atom with a partial
positive charge and another
atom with a partial negative
 charge

Cohesion = giống nhau Attraction between molecules -​ Form surface tension

of the same substance, such -​ Insect can float
as water
- Water-forming droplets

Adhesion = khác nhau Attraction between molecules -​ Cohesion+adhesion

of different substances allows capillary action
-​ Water climbing up
plant roots

Polarity Unequal sharing of electrons

in water molecule

pH scale Determined by the

concentration of H+ ions in
solution

buffer Help to maintain homeostasis Weak acid or bases

in the solutions within
organisms

a substance that helps keep

the pH of a solution stable by
preventing it from becoming
too acidic or too basic.

Mixture a material composed of two

or more elements or
compounds that are
physically mixed but not
chemically combined.

Solution The ions gradually become

dispersed in the water,
forming a type of mixture

Solute the substance that is

dissolved.

Solvent water

Suspension A mixture where substances

do not dissolve but remain
floating in the liquid

acid compound that releases

H+ ions into solution.
base a compound that produces
hydroxide (OH−) ions in
solution.

Macromolecules Large organic molecules are 4 major groups of

made of small subunits and biomolecules: carbon
play many important roles in hydrates, lipids, proteins, and
living things nucleic acid

Monomer small molecules that bond The reverse reaction,

polymer together to form such as breaking polymer into
polymers. monomers, is known as
dehydration synthesis

dehydration A chemical reaction in which

two molecules are joined
together by removing a
molecule of water (H₂O). This
process is used to build
larger molecules, such as
proteins and carbohydrates.

synthesis synthesis refers to the

process of combining two or
more simple substances to
form a more complex
substance

hydrolysis A chemical reaction that

breaks down large
molecules by adding water
(H₂O). This process is the
opposite of dehydration
synthesis and helps in
digestion.

carbohydrate Carbohydrates are made up

of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen atoms. Organisms
use carbohydrates to store
and release energy, as well
as for structural support and
protection.

lipid Subunit: fatty acid, glicerol Lipids can be used

to store energy, and they form
Lipid can be used to store important parts of biological
energy membranes and waterproof
3 fatty acid + 1 glicerol coverings.

Form triglyceride
 Unsaturated = double bond =
healthy

Saturated = 1 bond = not

healthy

nucleotide Nucleotides are monomers

with three components: a
5-carbon sugar, a phosphate
group, and a nitrogenous
base.

Nucleic acid Nucleic acids are made of -​ Covalent bonds can

nucleotide monomers link individual
nucleotides to form
Nucleic acid = phosphrate polynucleotides, also
group + nitrogen base + 5 known as nucleic
carbon sugar acids.

4 nitrogen base: -​ There are two types of

nucleic acids:
DNA: G C A T ●​ RNA – contains the
RNA: GCUT sugar ribose.
●​ (DNA) – contains the
sugar deoxyribose.

-​ Nucleic acids function

in storing and
transmitting hereditary
(genetic) information.

Polypeptide not all polypeptides are proteins.

but all proteins are made of
polypeptides.

Polymer made of amino acid

Amino acid bonds together

by peptide bond

protein Polymers made up of amino Functions:

acid monomers -​ Structure
-​ Hormones
-​ Enzymes
fully functioned biomolecules -​ Transport
that consist of one or more
peptide
amino acid compounds with an amino
Group, a carboxyl group, r
group

Polypeptide A polymer made of amino

acid

Fatty acid Fatty acids are building

blocks of lipids and can be
saturated or unsaturated
(double bond)

glycerol A three-carbon alcohol that

combines with fatty acids to
form lipids (fats and oils). It
has three hydroxyl (-OH)
groups that help it bond with
fatty acids.

glucose A simple sugar

(monosaccharide) with the
chemical formula C₆H₁₂O₆. It
is a primary source of energy
for cells and is produced
during photosynthesis.

starch A polysaccharide made of

many glucose molecules
linked together. It is a storage
form of carbohydrates in
plants and is broken down
into glucose when needed.

monosaccharide The simplest form of

carbohydrates, consisting of
a single sugar unit (e.g.,
glucose, fructose, galactose).
It is the building block of
more complex
carbohydrates.

polysaccharide A complex carbohydrate

made up of many
monosaccharide units joined
together (e.g., starch,
glycogen, cellulose).
Polysaccharides store energy
or provide structural support
in cells.

chemical reaction A chemical reaction changes -​ Energy is released

 one set of chemicals into (exergonic reaction) or
another (new substances are absorbed (endergonic
formed) reaction) during
chemical reaction

reactant The elements or compounds

that engage in a chemical
reaction

Product The elements or compounds

produced by a chemical
reaction

activation energy Chemical reactions require a

certain initial input of energy

catalyst a substance that speeds up

the rate of a chemical
reaction without
being consumed by the
reaction.
Catalysts work by
lowering a reaction’s
activation energy.

enzyme Lower activation energy and

speed up chemical reactions
in cells

substrate The reactants of

enzyme-catalyzed reactions

Endergonic Absorbs energy Photosynthesis

Exergonic Releases energy Cellular Respiration

Active site Region where substrate

binds to enzyme

Heat Capacity vs. Heat of Vaporization

Both heat capacity and heat of vaporization are important properties of water that help
regulate temperature in nature and living organisms.

✅ Definition: The amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a
✅ Definition: The amount of heat energy required to convert 1 gram of a liquid into a gas
substance by 1°C.

at its boiling point.