What is an inorganic compound?

A substance that does not contain both carbon and hydrogen; water and hydrochloric acid are examples.

Something that absorbs and dissipates heat without a large rise in its own temperature.

How does water help protect body structures?

It cushions structures such as the brain and developing fetus, and lubricates moving surfaces.

How do a solution and a colloid differ?

A solution distributes solute evenly; a colloid has particles large enough to scatter light.

What do hydrophilic and hydrophobic mean?

Hydrophilic substances interact readily with water; hydrophobic substances do not readily dissolve in it.

BiochemistryLesson 2 of 2 in the course The Chemical Level of Organization

Water, Solutes, Salts, and Acid–Base Balance in Human Chemistry

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

An inorganic compound does not contain both carbon and hydrogen. Water ( $H_2O$ ) and hydrochloric acid ( $HCl$ ) are inorganic compounds that contain hydrogen. Carbon dioxide ( $CO_2$ ) is an uncommon example of an inorganic compound that contains carbon.

An organic compound contains both carbon and hydrogen. Organic compounds are built through covalent bonds in living organisms. This unit focuses on inorganic compounds; organic compounds are considered later in the study of body chemistry.

All flashcards

What is an inorganic compound?: A substance that does not contain both carbon and hydrogen; water and hydrochloric acid are examples.
What is a heat sink?: Something that absorbs and dissipates heat without a large rise in its own temperature.
How does water help protect body structures?: It cushions structures such as the brain and developing fetus, and lubricates moving surfaces.
How do a solution and a colloid differ?: A solution distributes solute evenly; a colloid has particles large enough to scatter light.
What do hydrophilic and hydrophobic mean?: Hydrophilic substances interact readily with water; hydrophobic substances do not readily dissolve in it.

Quiz questions

Which body fluid contains water that helps joints move smoothly?Answer: Synovial fluid
How does evaporation of sweat cool the body?Answer: It carries heat away from the skin.
A mixture has solute distributed evenly after dissolving. How is it classified?Answer: A solution
Why can polar water molecules help separate ions in an ionic compound?Answer: Their partial charges attract oppositely charged ions.
A solution at pH 4 is compared with one at pH 5. How do their hydrogen-ion concentrations differ?Answer: The pH 4 solution has ten times the concentration.

Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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