TR.VOCAB.1A
BIOCHEMISTRY UNIT VOCABULARY CHART
2009
Word
1. acid
Definition
pH below 7; forms H+ ions
Word Part
acidu=sour
2. aerobic
respiration
The breakdown of carbohydrates in the presence of
O2 to make CO2, H2O, and ATP (energy)
aer=air
bio=life
spirare=to
breathe
3. amino acid
The subunit of a protein
4. anaerobic
respiration
The breakdown of carbohydrates without O2 to make
CO2, H2O, and ATP (energy)
5. base
pH above 7, creates OH- ions
6. capillary action
Tendency of water to rise in a thin tube, property of
water that allows nutrients to travel from roots to the
leaves of plants through the vascular tissue
7. carbohydrate
Monosaccharides are the building blocks; sugar:
major source of energy for the body
97
Visual
an=not
aer=air
bio=life
capillaries=
tiny, hair-thin
Biology Reteaching Resource
TR.VOCAB.1A
8. cellular
respiration
BIOCHEMISTRY UNIT VOCABULARY CHART
The process by which carbohydrate molecules are
broken down to release ATP (energy)
C6H12O6 + O2
CO2 + H20 + ATP (Energy)
9. cohesion
Attraction between molecules of the same type;
Ex. surface tension, which causes liquids to form
spherical droplets, is caused by cohesion
10. compound
A substance composed of atoms of two or more
elements linked by chemical bonds
11. enzyme
A protein that acts as a catalyst and speeds up
biochemical reactions
12. fatty acid
Subunit of a lipid
13. lipid
Stores energy; includes fats, oils, waxes; nonpolar not soluble in water
cohesive=
stick together
en=in
zyme=leaven
lipos=fat
Related word: liposuction
2009
98
Biology Reteaching Resource
TR.VOCAB.1A
14. minerals
2009
BIOCHEMISTRY UNIT VOCABULARY CHART
Inorganic compound that the body needs in small
minera=ore,
amounts, one not made from living things and does
rock
not contain carbon
15. molecule
Group of atoms that form the smallest unit of a
substance that can retain its chemical properties
moles=tiny
16. monosaccharide
Subunit of a carbohydrate, ex=glucose
mono=one
sacchar=sugar
17. nucleic acid
Stores genetic information; composed of nucleotides;
ex= DNA and RNA
nucleus=nut,
kernel
18. nucleotide
A subunit of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA); consists
of a sugar, phosphate and N base; in DNA they form
a series of units called genes
99
Biology Reteaching Resource
TR.VOCAB.1A
2009
19. nutrient
BIOCHEMISTRY UNIT VOCABULARY CHART
Chemical substance that organisms require to live
nutriens=nouris
hing
20. pH
Term used to describe the acidity of a solution
21. photosynthesis
Process by which autotrophs take in sunlight, H2O,
and CO2 to make glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen
photo=light
synthesis=to put
together
22. polar molecule
A molecule that has a partial negative charge on one
side and a partial positive charge on the other;
hydrophilic
polus=pole
23. protein
Polypeptide; needed for growth, structure, and
enzymes; composed of amino acids
protos=first
24. solution
Mixture composed of solute and solvent
100
Biology Reteaching Resource
TR.VOCAB.1A
25. solvent
BIOCHEMISTRY UNIT VOCABULARY CHART
The substance in which a solute is dissolved to form
a solution; water is the universal solvent
26. vitamins
Organic molecule that the body needs to regulate
body processes
27. water
H2O; polar molecule that expands upon freezing
making it less dense as a solid than as a liquid (so ice
floats)
28. ATP (Adenosine Energy storage molecule; created during the process
of cellular respiration
Tri-Phosphate)
29. inorganic
2009
A molecule that does not contain chains of carbon;
ex=water and minerals
101
vita=life
Tri=three
In=not
Biology Reteaching Resource
TR.VOCAB.1A
30. organic
2009
BIOCHEMISTRY UNIT VOCABULARY CHART
A molecule that contains chains of carbon; examples:
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins
31. catalyst
Substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical
reaction
Cata=lower
Lys=loosen
32. chemosynthesis
Occurs in the absence of light; organisms produce
their own food using inorganic substances
Synthesis=to
make
33. heredity
Transmission of genetic material from parent to
offspring
Hered=heir
34. homeostasis
Process by which organisms maintain relatively
stable internal conditions
Homo=same
Stasis=fixed,
stable
35. hydrogen bond
A bond between polar molecules, especially water
36. metabolism
The sum of building and breaking reactions
happening in living things
102
Metabol=
change
Biology Reteaching Resource
TR.VOCAB.1A
37. reproduction
2009
BIOCHEMISTRY UNIT VOCABULARY CHART
The creation of new cells/organisms from existing
ones (sexual or asexual)
38. solute
The substance dissolved into the solvent to make a
solution
39. substrate
Reactant of an enzyme catalyzed reaction; the
molecule that gets broken down or built
40. vitamin C
Vitamin that assists with wound healing
41. vitamin D
Vitamin that assists with bone growth
42. vitamin K
Vitamin that assists with blood clotting
103
Solver=to
loosen or
dissolve
Biology Reteaching Resource
TR.VOCAB.1A
2009
104
Biology Reteaching Resource