BIOCHEMISTRY Vocabulary and Reading Assignment
Use your textbook to define the following vocabulary words, found in chapter 2. Try to find the
definition in the context of the chapter rather than going straight to the glossary!
Atom
Nucleus
Electron
Element
Isotope
Compound
Ionic Bond
Ion
Covalent Bond
Molecule
Cohesion
Adhesion
Solution
Solute
Solvent
Acid
Base
Monomer
Polymer
Carbohydrate
Monosaccharide
Polysaccharide
Lipid
Nucleic Acid
Nucleotide
DNA
RNA
Protein
Amino Acid
Activation Energy
Catalyst
Enzyme
Substrate
Buffer
Then, answer the following questions, while reading chapter 2 (pages 34-54). These questions should be
answered in your vocab notebook.
Chapter 2.1 and 2.2: These questions should be complete by November 30TH.
1. Explain the relationship among atoms, elements and compounds.
2. Why do all isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties? In what way to
isotopes of an element differ?
3. What is a covalent bond? An ionic bond?
4. Explain the properties of cohesion and adhesion. Give an example of each.
5. What is the relationship among solutions, solutes and solvents?
6. Compare acidic and basic solutions in terms of their H+ ion and OH- ion concentrations.
7. What does pH measure?
8. How does the body control pH?
Chapter 2.3: These questions should be complete by December 4TH.
1. What properties of carbon explain carbon’s ability to form many different
macromolecules?
2. Explain the relationship between monomers and polymers, using polysaccharides as an
example.
3. Identify three major roles of proteins.
4. Describe the parts of a nucleotide.
5. Name the two basic kinds of nucleic acids. What sugar does each contain?
Chapter 2.4: These questions should be complete by December 8th.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What happens to chemical bonds during chemical reactions?
Describe the types of energy changes that can occur in a chemical reaction.
What are enzymes and how are they important to living things?
What is the relationship that exists between an enzyme and a catalyst?
How can cells regulate enzyme activity?
This assignment is due December 11/14, 2015!
This assignment will not be accepted after 12/18.