Molecules of Life

the tendency of a material, such as water, to stick to other materials

the temperature of the environment

an organic molecule that contains a carboxyl group (–COOH), an amino group (–NH₂), and a functional side chain, which is a group of atoms that is unique in its structure and function

a portion of an amino acid made up of a nitrogen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms (–NH₂ )

a solution containing water

an aqueous solution that resists changes in pH, containing a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid

an organic molecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and provides energy to cells

a portion of a molecule made of a carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms in which one oxygen atom is in turn bonded to a hydrogen atom (-COOH)

the structure that encloses the cell, made of the phospholipid bilayer

the tendency of a material, such as water, to stick to itself

an organic molecule containing coded instructions for the life processes of an organism, which consists of nucleotides bonded together in the form of a double helix

the helical structure formed by two strands of DNA as they wind around each other

the amount of energy that must be added to a liquid in order to transform it to a gas

long-chain hydrocarbon that is soluble in nonpolar solvents; that is, solvents without charge

a group of two or more atoms bonded together

having a pH of 7

large molecule made of nucleotides

an organic molecule consisting of a five-carbon sugar, a nitrogen base, and a phosphate group

a molecule that contains at least one carbon atom

a living thing that grows, reproduces, responds to its environment, and uses energy

the movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower concentration of solute to higher concentration of solute

a measure of the relative proportion of H⁺ (acid) and OH^- (basic) ions in a solution; represented as a number generally ranging from zero (acidic) to 14 (basic), where seven (neutral) represents equal quantities of H⁺ and OH^- ions

a double layer of lipids and proteins that separates the cell interior from the external environment and regulates the passage of substances into and out of the cell

a molecule that has oppositely charged sides

a large molecule made of repeating smaller units of similar structure that are bonded together

a large molecule composed of amino acids; proteins speed up reactions and transport material in and out of cells

an organic molecule that carries genetic messages out of the nucleus; consists of a single strand of nucleic acids