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Biology LibreTexts

3.4: Key Terms

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acid
molecule that donates hydrogen ions and increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution
adhesion
attraction between water molecules and other molecules
anion
negative ion that is formed by an atom gaining one or more electrons
base
molecule that donates hydroxide ions or otherwise binds excess hydrogen ions and decreases the hydrogen ions' concentration in a solution
buffer
substance that resists a change in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen or hydroxide ions
capillary action
occurs because water molecules are attracted to charges on the inner surfaces of narrow tubular structures such as glass tubes, drawing the water molecules to the tubes' sides
cation
positive ion that is formed by an atom losing one or more electrons
cohesion
intermolecular forces between water molecules caused by the polar nature of water; responsible for surface tension
dissociation
release of an ion from a molecule such that the original molecule now consists of an ion and the charged remains of the original, such as when water dissociates into H+ and OH-
electrolyte
ion necessary for nerve impulse conduction, muscle contractions, and water balance
electronegativity
ability of some elements to attract electrons (often of hydrogen atoms), acquiring partial negative charges in molecules and creating partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms
equilibrium
steady state of relative reactant and product concentration in reversible chemical reactions in a closed system
evaporation
change from liquid to gaseous state at a body of water's surface, plant leaves, or an organism's skin
heat of vaporization of water
high amount of energy required for liquid water to turn into water vapor
hydrogen bond
weak bond between slightly positively charged hydrogen atoms and slightly negatively charged atoms in other molecules
hydrophilic
describes ions or polar molecules that interact well with other polar molecules such as water
hydrophobic
describes uncharged nonpolar molecules that do not interact well with polar molecules such as water
ion
atom or chemical group that does not contain equal numbers of protons and electrons
ionic bond
chemical bond that forms between ions with opposite charges (cations and anions)
litmus paper
(also, pH paper) filter paper treated with a natural water-soluble dye that changes its color as the pH of the environment changes in order to use it as a pH indicator
molecule
two or more atoms chemically bonded together
neutron
uncharged particle that resides in an atom's nucleus; has a mass of one amu
nonpolar covalent bond
type of covalent bond that forms between atoms when electrons are shared equally between them
pH scale
scale ranging from zero to 14 that is inversely proportional to the hydrogen ions' concentration in a solution
polar covalent bond
type of covalent bond that forms as a result of unequal electron sharing, resulting in creating slightly positive and negative charged molecule regions
solvent
substance capable of dissolving another substance
specific heat capacity
the amount of heat one gram of a substance must absorb or lose to change its temperature by one degree Celsius
sphere of hydration
when a polar water molecule surrounds charged or polar molecules thus keeping them dissolved and in solution
surface tension
tension at the surface of a body of liquid that prevents the molecules from separating; created by the attractive cohesive forces between the liquid's molecules

This page titled 3.4: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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