Biochemistry

If you want to master biochemistry, learning this vocabulary list is the perfect solution. Not sure what enzymes and catalysts are? No matter — this list covers everything you need to know about the chemical processes that support life. You'll review chemical reactions, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and much more.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. acid
    a sour water-soluble compound with a pH of less than 7
  2. activation energy
    the energy that an atomic system must acquire before a process (such as an emission or reaction) can occur
  3. active site
    the part of an enzyme or antibody where the chemical reaction occurs
  4. adhesion
    the property of sticking together
  5. aerobic
    depending on free oxygen or air
  6. amino acid
    organic compounds containing an amino group and acid group
  7. anaerobic
    not using or dependent on oxygen
  8. ATP
    a nucleotide derived from adenosine that occurs in muscle tissue; the major source of energy for cellular reactions
  9. base
    a compound reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
  10. biochemistry
    the study of substances and processes inside living things
  11. bond
    an electrical force linking atoms
  12. buffer
    (chemistry) an ionic compound that resists changes in its pH
  13. capillary action
    a phenomenon associated with surface tension and resulting in the elevation or depression of liquids in capillaries
  14. carbohydrate
    an essential component of living cells and source of energy
  15. carbon
    an abundant nonmetallic element in all organic compounds
  16. carbonic acid
    a weak acid known only in solution
  17. catalyst
    substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction
  18. cell
    the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms
  19. cell membrane
    a thin membrane enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell
  20. cellular respiration
    the metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules; processes that take place in the cells and tissues during which energy is released and carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed by the blood to be transported to the lungs
  21. cellulose
    a polysaccharide that is the chief constituent of all plant tissues and fibers
  22. cell wall
    a rigid layer of polysaccharides enclosing a plant membrane
  23. chemical reaction
    a process in which substances are changed into others
  24. chitin
    component of arthropods' exoskeletons and bodies of fungi
  25. citric acid cycle
    in all plants and animals, a series of enzymatic reactions in mitochondria of involving oxidative metabolism of acetyl compounds to produce high-energy phosphate compounds that are the source of cellular energy
  26. cohesion
    the force that holds together molecules in a solid or liquid
  27. compound
    a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements
  28. covalent bond
    a chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule
  29. denature
    modify (as a native protein) especially by heat, acid, alkali, or ultraviolet radiation so that all of the original properties are removed or diminished
  30. disaccharide
    any of a variety of carbohydrates that yield two monosaccharide molecules on complete hydrolysis
  31. DNA
    material that carries genetic information in a cell
  32. energy
    any source of usable power
  33. enzyme
    a complex protein produced by cells that acts as a catalyst
  34. fatty acid
    any of a class of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids that form part of a lipid molecule and can be derived from fat by hydrolysis; fatty acids are simple molecules built around a series of carbon atoms linked together in a chain of 12 to 22 carbon atoms
  35. fermentation
    breaking down an organic substance, as sugar into alcohol
  36. glucose
    a monosaccharide sugar that has several forms
  37. glycerol
    a sweet syrupy trihydroxy alcohol obtained by saponification of fats and oils
  38. glycogen
    one form in which body fuel is stored
  39. glycolysis
    metabolic process that breaks down carbohydrates and sugars
  40. homeostasis
    metabolic equilibrium maintained by biological mechanisms
  41. hydrogen
    a colorless, odorless gas; the lightest chemical element
  42. hydrogen bond
    a chemical bond consisting of a hydrogen atom between two electronegative atoms (e.g., oxygen or nitrogen) with one side be a covalent bond and the other being an ionic bond
  43. hydrolysis
    a chemical reaction in which water reacts with a compound to produce other compounds; involves the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion from the water
  44. hydrophilic
    having a strong affinity for water
  45. hydrophobic
    lacking affinity for water
  46. inorganic
    relating or belonging to the class of compounds not having a carbon basis
  47. insulation
    reduction of the transmission of sound, heat, or electricity
  48. ion
    a particle that is electrically charged positive or negative
  49. ionic bond
    a chemical bond between oppositely charged ions
  50. Krebs cycle
    in all plants and animals, a series of enzymatic reactions in mitochondria involving oxidative metabolism of acetyl compounds to produce high-energy phosphate compounds that are the source of cellular energy
  51. light reaction
    the first stage of photosynthesis during which energy from light is used for the production of ATP
  52. lipid
    oily, insoluble organic compound that's a component of cells
  53. macromolecule
    any very large complex molecule
  54. matter
    that which has mass and occupies space
  55. metabolism
    the organic processes that are necessary for life
  56. molecule
    the simplest structural unit of an element or compound
  57. monomer
    a simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers
  58. monosaccharide
    a sugar that does not hydrolyse to give other sugars
  59. neutral
    having only a limited ability to react chemically
  60. nitrogen
    a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues
  61. nonpolar
    not ionic
  62. nucleic acid
    (biochemistry) any of various macromolecules composed of nucleotide chains that are vital constituents of all living cells
  63. nucleotide
    a phosphoric ester of a nucleoside
  64. organic
    relating to chemical compounds having a carbon basis
  65. oxidization
    the process of oxidizing
  66. oxidize
    enter into a combination with oxygen
  67. oxygen
    a colorless, odorless gas that is essential for respiration
  68. peptide bond
    the primary linkage of all protein structures
  69. pH
    a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution
  70. phospholipid
    any of various compounds composed of fatty acids and phosphoric acid and a nitrogenous base; an important constituent of membranes
  71. phosphorus
    a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms
  72. photosynthesis
    formation of compounds in plants aided by radiant energy
  73. polar
    having a pair of equal and opposite charges
  74. polarity
    the state of having an indicated electrical charge
  75. polymer
    a naturally occurring or synthetic compound
  76. polymerization
    a chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer or polymeric compound
  77. polypeptide
    a peptide containing 10 to more than 100 amino acids
  78. polysaccharide
    any of a class of carbohydrates whose molecules contain chains of monosaccharide molecules
  79. product
    a chemical substance formed as a result of a reaction
  80. protein
    an organic compound essential to living cells
  81. pyruvic acid
    a colorless acid formed as an important intermediate in metabolism or fermentation
  82. reactant
    a substance that is altered during a chemical process
  83. RNA
    a nucleic acid that helps synthesize proteins and transmit genetic data
  84. saturated
    having all available valence bonds filled
  85. solute
    the dissolved matter in a homogenous liquid mixture
  86. solution
    a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances
  87. solvent
    a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances
  88. starch
    a complex carbohydrate in seeds, fruits, and pith of plants
  89. substrate
    the material that is acted upon by an enzyme
  90. surface tension
    phenomenon at a liquid's surface from intermolecular forces
  91. transpiration
    the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants
  92. triglyceride
    glyceride occurring naturally in animal and vegetable tissues; it consists of three individual fatty acids bound together in a single large molecule; an important energy source forming much of the fat stored by the body
Created on Thu Feb 09 15:27:59 EST 2017 (updated Tue Apr 18 15:05:57 EDT 2017)

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