Chapter 4 - From Chemistry to Energy to Life
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KarynnaOkabeMiyamoto on October 13, 2011
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61 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Phytoremediation | A method employed to clean up a hazardous waste site that uses plants to absorb and accumulate toxic materials. |
| Organic Compounds | Compounds containing carbon atoms combined with each other and with atoms of one or more other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, and fluorine. All other compounds are called inorganic compounds. |
| Hydrocarbons | Organic molecules that are composed of only carbon and hydrogen. |
| First Law of Thermodynamics | The principle of conservation of energy. Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed. |
| Matter | That which has mass and occupies space. |
| Heterotroph | An organism that cannot make its own food. |
| Hydrogen | A nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas. (H) |
| Bioremediation | The act of treating waste or pollutants by the use of microorganisms (as bacteria) that can break down the undesirable substances. |
| Law of Conservation of Matter | States that matter is neither created nor destroyed, only changed in form. |
| Eukaryote | A cell that contains a nucleus and membrane bound organelles. |
| Second Law of Thermodynamics | A law stating that mechanical work can be derived from a body only when that body interacts with another at a lower temperature. |
| Photosynthesis | Synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants). |
| Carbon | An abundant nonmetallic tetravalent element occurring in three allotropic forms: amorphous carbon and graphite and diamond. |
| Radioactive | Giving off radiant energy in the form of alpha, beta, or gamma rays by the breaking up of atoms. |
| Oxygen | A nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas. (O) |
| Prokaryote | A unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and membrane bound organelles. |
| Autotroph | An organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds. |
| Cellular Respiration | The metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic moelcules. |
| Exxon Valdez | Oil tanker that crashed in March 1989, considered largest U. S. oil spill, emptied 35,000 tons of oil into Prince William Sound. |
| Nitrogen | A common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas. (N) |
| Phosphorus | A multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells. |
| Element | One of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe. |
| Atoms | The smallest unit of matter that has the characteristics of an element; consists of three main types of subatomic particles: protons neutrons and electrons. |
| Protons | Positively charged particles. |
| Neutrons | These have no electrical charge, but add to the mass of the atom. |
| Electrons | Negatively charged particles. |
| Isotopes | Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. |
| Atomic Number | The order of an element in Mendeleyev's table of the elements. |
| Phytoextraction | Using plants or algae to remove contaminants from soils, sediments or water. |
| Half-Life | The time required for one half of the atoms of a radioisotope to emit radiation an decay products. |
| Radioactive Dating | Technique in which scientists calculate the age of a sample based on the amount of remaining radioactive isotopes it contains. |
| Compound | A substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight. |
| Carbon Dioxide | Gas that is a reactant of photosynthesis and a waste product of cellular respiration. |
| Covalent Bond | A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule. |
| Ionic Bonds | Formed when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another. |
| Methane | C, odorless, flammable gas present in natural gas and formed by the decomposition of plant matter. |
| Ozone | A colorless gas soluble in alkalis and cold water. |
| Hydrogen Bond | A chemical bond consisting of a hydrogen atom between two electronegative atoms. |
| Acidic | A sour taste, can conduct electricity, are corrosive, and some of these react strongly with certain metals. |
| Basic | Starting point. (7) |
| pH Scale | A measurement system used to indicate the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in solution; ranges from 0 to 14. |
| Polymers | Large compound formed from combinations of many monomers. |
| Macro - Molecules | Large, complex, organic molecules that make up the basic molecular units found in living organisms. They are made up of nucleic acids, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. |
| Proteins | Nutrients that contain nitrogen as well as carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. |
| Nucleic Acids | Very long organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphurous, contain instructions that cells need to carry out all the functions of life. |
| Deoxyribonucleic Acid | (DNA) nucleic acid that contains the sugar deoxyribose. |
| Ribonucleic Acid | (RNA) single-stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose. |
| Genes | The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein. |
| Carbohydrates | The starches and sugars present in foods. |
| Lipids | Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. |
| Phosolipids | Found in all cell membranes. have polar and nonpolar tail made of phosphate group glyceral and 2 fatty acids. |
| Fats and Oils | Provides protection and insulation, is also an energy source. |
| Cells | The basic unit of all living things. |
| Energy | A healthy capacity for vigorous activity. |
| Potential Energy | Stored energy. |
| Kinetic Energy | The mechanical energy that a body has by virtue of its motion. |
| Chemical Energy | That part of the energy in a substance that can be released by a chemical reaction. |
| Entropy | A thermodynamic quantity representing the amount of energy in a system that is no longer available for doing mechanical work. |
| Primary Producers | An autotroph, usually a photosynthetic organism. Collectively, autotrophs make up the trophic level of an ecosystem that ultimately supports all other levels. |
| Geothermal Energy | Energy derived from the heat in the interior of the earth. |
| Fossil Record | Chronological collection of life's remains in sedimentary rock layers. |
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