AP Biology Study Guide

UNIT I: Chapter 2 CHEMISTRY OF LIFE

A. Elements
 All life forms made up of matter
 All matter made up of elements

B. Essential Elements of Life

 96% of the mass of all living things made up of 4 elements:
Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen.

 Other elements (collectively 4% of biomass)

Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and other elements.

 Trace elements:
Boron, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum,
selenium, silicon, tin, vanadium, zinc.

C. Subatomic Particles
 Atom
 Protons
 Neutrons
 Isotopes
 Radioactive isotopes 
 Electrons

D. Compounds
 Compound 
A compound contains two or more different elements in a fixed ratio.

Ionic bonds
An ionic bond is the attraction between two oppositely charged ions and electron
transfer forms ions.

 Covalent bonds
 nonpolar covalent bond
 polar covalent bond
 single covalent bond
 Electronegativity 

o Hydrogen bonds
A hydrogen bond is an attraction between a hydrogen atom carrying a partial positive
charge and an electronegative atom carrying a partial negative charge.

o Van der Waals Interactions

Van der Waals interactions occur between transiently positive and negative regions
of molecules.
UNIT I: Chapter 3 Water

E. Water: The Versatile Molecule

o Water is polar

o Hydrogen bonds

 Cohesion
 Adhesion
 Surface tension
 High heat capacity
 High heat of vaporization
 Evaporative cooling
 Expansion on freezing
 Versatility as a solvent

F. Acids and Bases

 acidic 
 alkaline 
 pH scale
 Buffers