Definitions health science 20

• Atoms


  • The smallest building blocks of matter and make up everything around us
• Subatomic particles


  • Protons
  • Neutrons
  • Electrons
• Nucleus


  A small egg-shaped structure in the cell which acts like the brain of the cell
• Orbits


  A repeating path that one object in space takes around another one
• Isotope


  Atoms of an element that have the same number of protons than neutrons
• Ion


  A particle like an atom that has lost or gained electrons
• Valence orbit


  The electrons in the last electron shell of an atom
• Covalent bond


  Form when atoms share electrons on their outer shell to create a full set of electrons
• Ionic bond


  The outermost electrons of one atom are transferred permanently to another atom
• Endothermic


  If more energy is absorbed than released
• Exothermic


  Any reaction that gives off energy
• Hydrogen bond


  An attraction between 2 atoms that already participate in other chemical bonds
• Polar


  A molecule in which one end is slightly positive, while the other end is slightly negative
• Nonpolar


  Molecules that don't have any positive or negative charges
• Decomposition


  The process where a complex organic substance breaks down into smaller substances by the action of microorganisms
• Catabolic


  The process that produces energy needed for all activity in the cells
• Synthesis


  The production of an organic compound in a living thing
• Anabolic


  A process in metabolism where simple molecules combine to generate more complex molecules
• Homeostasis


  The ability in the body to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions
• Organic


  Any molecule with carbon
• Inorganic


  A compound that does not contain a carbon to hydrogen bond
• Carbohydrates


  • Sugar molecules
  • Monosaccharides
  • Disaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
• Glucose


  The sugar that circulates in the blood of animals
• Fructose


  Fruit sugar
• Galactose


  A monosaccharide sugar that is as sweet as sugar
• Sucrose


  A molecule with two monosaccharides
• Lactose


  Milk sugar
• Starch


  A complex carbohydrate
• Glycogen


  A stored form of glucose made up of many connected glucose molecules
• Cellulose


  The main substance found in plant cell walls and helps the plant stay stiff and strong
• Chitin


  A natural polymer found in a fungi cell wall
• Dehydration synthesis


  A type of chemical reaction in which two smaller molecules join together to form a larger molecule following the release of water
• Hydrolysis


  A chemical reaction that splits a molecule into smaller units by the addition of water molecules
• ATP


  The energy currency in biological systems
• ADP


  Adenosine triphosphate
• Lipids


  • Biological molecules that are insoluble in water
  • Glycerol
  • Fatty acids
  • Saturated fat
• Soluble


  Can be dissolved in liquid
• Saturated fat


  Fat found in meat or other animal products
• Saturated


  When the amount of solute in a solvent is so high that not all of it will dissolve
• Arteriosclerosis happens when the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body become thick and stiff