AP Biology Exam Key Words Questions and
Answers
Elements
Substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means
Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen
Four elements most commonly found in organisms
Trace Elements (only required in very small quantities)
Iron, iodine, copper
Atom
The smallest unit of an element that retains its characteristic properties
Proton
Small subatomic particles, located in the nucleus, positively charge particles
Electrons
Negatively charged, spin outside nucleus
Neutron
Inside nucleus, uncharged particles
Ionic bond
Formed between two atoms when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to the other
Covalent bond
Formed when electrons are shared between atoms
Nonpolar covalent
Electrons are shared equally between atoms
Polar covalent
Electrons are shared unequally
Cohesion
Water molecules have a strong tendency to stick together
Adhesion
Water molecules also like to stick to other substances
Heat capacity
The ability of a substance to store heat
, Acidic solution
Releases a lot of hydrogen ions (H+) if dissolved in water
Basic solution
Do not release hydrogen ions when added to water, they release a lot of hydroxide (OH-) ions.
pH scale
The acidity or alkalinity of a solution can be measured using this scale
Organic compounds
Compounds that contain a skeleton of carbon atoms
Inorganic compounds
Molecules that do not contain carbon atoms ex: (NaCl), carbon dioxide is the exception
Carbohydrates
Organic compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Monosaccharides
One-sugar molecule, the simplest sugars
Disaccharides
Two monosaccharides brought together. Hydrogen from (-H) from one sugar molecule combines with
the hydroxyl group (-OH) of another sugar molecule, water is removed and the two molecules of
monosaccharides are chemically linked
Polysaccharides
Made of many repeated units of monosaccharides
Glycogen
Animals store glucose in molecules in this form in the liver and muscle cells
Cellulose
Major part of cell wall in plants
Glucose
Six-carbon sugar; C6H12O6; most popular sugar, extremely abundant monosaccharide. Plants
produce this while capturing sunlight for energy, while cells break it down to release stored energy
Dehydration synthesis
A water molecule is lost
Answers
Elements
Substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means
Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen
Four elements most commonly found in organisms
Trace Elements (only required in very small quantities)
Iron, iodine, copper
Atom
The smallest unit of an element that retains its characteristic properties
Proton
Small subatomic particles, located in the nucleus, positively charge particles
Electrons
Negatively charged, spin outside nucleus
Neutron
Inside nucleus, uncharged particles
Ionic bond
Formed between two atoms when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to the other
Covalent bond
Formed when electrons are shared between atoms
Nonpolar covalent
Electrons are shared equally between atoms
Polar covalent
Electrons are shared unequally
Cohesion
Water molecules have a strong tendency to stick together
Adhesion
Water molecules also like to stick to other substances
Heat capacity
The ability of a substance to store heat
, Acidic solution
Releases a lot of hydrogen ions (H+) if dissolved in water
Basic solution
Do not release hydrogen ions when added to water, they release a lot of hydroxide (OH-) ions.
pH scale
The acidity or alkalinity of a solution can be measured using this scale
Organic compounds
Compounds that contain a skeleton of carbon atoms
Inorganic compounds
Molecules that do not contain carbon atoms ex: (NaCl), carbon dioxide is the exception
Carbohydrates
Organic compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Monosaccharides
One-sugar molecule, the simplest sugars
Disaccharides
Two monosaccharides brought together. Hydrogen from (-H) from one sugar molecule combines with
the hydroxyl group (-OH) of another sugar molecule, water is removed and the two molecules of
monosaccharides are chemically linked
Polysaccharides
Made of many repeated units of monosaccharides
Glycogen
Animals store glucose in molecules in this form in the liver and muscle cells
Cellulose
Major part of cell wall in plants
Glucose
Six-carbon sugar; C6H12O6; most popular sugar, extremely abundant monosaccharide. Plants
produce this while capturing sunlight for energy, while cells break it down to release stored energy
Dehydration synthesis
A water molecule is lost
