AP Bio Ch.

2 Vocab
Subatomic Particle Particle Smaller than an atom (ex. Neutrons, protons, Electrons)
Mass number Numbers of Neutrons in the Nucleus
Atomic number Number of Protons in the Nucleus
Average atomic mass Isotope One of several atomic forms of an element, each with the same number of
protons but a different number of neutrons, thus differing in atomic mass
Radioisotope An isotope, that is unstable; the nucleus decays spontaneously,
giving off detectable particles and energy
Potential Energy The energy that matter possesses as a result of its location or
spatial arrangement (structure)
Valence Electrons Electron in the outermost electron shell
SP3 hybridization - combining different orbitals to form a hybridized one involves ones orbital and
three p orbitals to form 4 sp3 hybrid orbitals.

Chemical Bond Attraction between two atoms, resulting from a sharing of outer
shell electrons or the presence of opposite charges on the atoms. The bonded
atoms gain complete outer electron shells
Covalent Bond Type of strong chemical bond in which two atoms share one or
more pairs of valence electrons
Electronegativity - a measure of how strongly atoms attract bonding electrons to themselves
Nonpolar covalent bond - A bond in which electrons are shared between elements having a
difference in electronegativity of less than 0.5.
Polar covalent bond- bond in which electrons are shared between elements having a
difference in electronegativity of between 0.5 and ~2.0.
Ion Atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electrons, thus
acquiring a charge
Cation Positively Charged Ion
Anion Negatively Charged Ion
Hydrogen Bond Type of weak chemical bond that is formed when the slightly
positive hydrogen atom of a polar covalent bond in one molecule is attracted to the
slightly negative atom of a polar covalent bond in another molecule or in another
region of the same molecule
Intermolecular Force - forces of attraction or repulsion which act between neighboring
particles (atoms, molecules or ions). They are weak compared to the intramolecular forces,
the forces which keep a molecule together.

Dipole-Dipole Force - attractive forces between the positive end of one polar molecule and
the negative end of another polar molecule. Dipole-dipole forces have strengths that range from
5 kJ to 20 kJ per molecule
London Dispersion Force - type of force acting between atoms and molecules
Tetrahedral - term used to describe molecules and polyatomic ions that have one atom in
center and four atoms at the corners of a tetrahedron
Chemical reaction Making and breaking of chemical bonds leading to changes in
the composition of matter
Law of Conservation of Mass Physical law stating that matter can change form but
cannot be created or destroyed. In a closed system, the mass of the system is
constant
Chemical Equilibrium In a chemical reaction, the state in which the rate of the
forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction, so that the relative
concentrations of the reactants and products do not change with time
Polar Molecule Molecule with an uneven distribution of charges in different regions
of the molecule
Dipole - separation of positive and negative charges
Cohesion Linking together of like molecules, often by hydrogen bonds
Adhesion Clinging of one substance to another, such as water to plant cell walls,
by means of hydrogen bonds
Surface Tension Measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface of a
liquid
Kinetic Energy energy associated with the relative motion of objects. Moving
matter can perform work by imparting motion to other matters.
Thermal Energy Kinetic energy due to the random motion of atoms and molecules;
energy in its most random form
Specific Heat Amount of heat that must be absorbed or lost for 1 gram of a
substance to change its temperature by 1 Celsius
Evaporative Cooling Process in which the surface of an object becomes cooler
during evaporation, a result of the molecules with the greatest kinetic energy
changing from the liquid to the gaseous state
Solution Liquid that is a homogeneous mixture of 2 or more substances
Hydrophobic Having no affinity for water, tending to coalesce and form droplets in
water
Hydrophilic having an affinity for water

Mole Number of grams of a substance that equals its molecular weight in Daltons
and contains Avogadros number of molecules
Molarity Common measure of solute concentration, referring to the number of
moles of solute per liter of solution
Hydrogen Ion Single proton with a charge of 1+ the dissociation of a water
molecule leads to the generation of a hydroxide ion, and a hydrogen ion; in water.
H+ is not found alone but associates with a water molecule to form a hydronium ion
Acid Substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution
Base Substance that reduces the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution
Buffer Solution that contains a weak acid and its corresponding base. A buffer
minimizes changes in pH when acids or bases are added to the solution
pH Measure of hydrogen ion concentration and ranging in value from 0 to 14