| A | B |
|---|
| Atoms | The smallest unit of an element that retains the chemical and physical properties of that element. |
| Molecules | The smallest particle of a substance that is composed of 2 or more atoms. |
| Macromolecules | A polymer with a high molecular mass. Within organisms there are four main groups: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic Acids. |
| Freezing Point | The temperature at which a liquid changes state to a solid. |
| High Specific Heat | The measure of heat energy required to increase the temperature of a unit by a certain temperature interval. |
| Cohesion | The intermolecular attraction between like molecules. Surface tension results from the cohesive properties of water. |
| Adhesion | The intermolecular attraction between unlike molecules. Capillary action results from the adhesive properties of water and the molecules that make up plant cells. |
| Carbon | An element found in organic materials, has 4 valence electrons. |
| Polymer | Composed of multiple monomers. |
| Carbohydrate | A macromolecule that contains C,H and O in a 1:2:1 ratio. Major source of energy for living organisms (ex: sugars, starches and cellulose). |
| Lipid | A group of organic compounds composed of mostly of C, H and O. Insoluable in water, serve as a source of stored energy and make up cell membranes. |
| Protein | A macromolecule that contains C,H,O and N; performs a variety of structural and regulartory functions for cells. |
| Nucleic Acid | A biological macromolecule (DNA or RNA)composed of the elements C,H,N,O and P that carries genetic information. |
| Enzyme | A protein that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being changed by the reaction; an organic catalyst. |
| Catalyst | A substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (ex: lower temperature) than otherwise possible without being changed by the reaction. |
| pH | The measure of acidity or basicity in a solution that scales from 1-14. |
| Temperature | Measurement of particles in a sample of matter that is measured in Celsius or Fahrenheit. |
| Concentration | The measure of the amount or proportion of a given substance when combined with another substance. |
| Monomer | A molecule of any compound that can react with other molecules of the same or different compound to form a polymer. Each macromolecule has characteristic monomers. |
