C190 Study Guide
Introduction to Biology
(Western Governors
University)
,C190 Intro to Biology Study Guide
Unit 1: Biology: The Science of Life (Modules 1–2)
Module 1: Introduction to Biology
• Classify items as biotic (living) or abiotic (nonliving).
• Identify the levels of biological organization from atom to biome.
atom, molecule, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem,
biosphere
Key Terms:
abiotic- nonliving
atom- basic unit of matter, consists of a dense nucleus surrounded by
electrons biology- study of life
biome- areas of earth w/ similar
characteristics biosphere- all habitable zones
on the planet biotic- living
cell-smallest structural and functional unit of an organism
community- populations of different species interacting with one another
ecosystem- all of the living things in a particular environment
macromolecule- large molecules that are typically formed by
polymerization
molecule- atoms joined together, a chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held
together by a chemical bond
organ- collections of tissues that work together to carry out a common general
function organ system- higher level of organization that consists of functionally
related organs organelle- small structures existing w/in cells
organism- individual living entities that survive and reproduce as a unit
population- consists of all of the individuals of a species living in a specific
area
tissue- a group of cells that have similar structure and that function together as a unit
Module 2: Scientific Inquiry
• Apply the process of scientific inquiry to questions about the natural world.
• Relate experimental design to the process of scientific inquiry.
Key Terms: scientific inquiry- refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural
world and propose explanations based on the evidence derived from their work
Unit 2: Basic Chemistry and Biological Macromolecules
Module 3: Atoms and Chemical Bonding
• Describe what an atom is and the subatomic particles of which it is comprised.
Atoms are made up of protons and neutrons location w/in the nucleus, with electrons in orbitals
surrounding the nucleus
• Identify different types of chemical bonds.
Covalent Bond Ionic Bond Hydrogen Bond
, • Strong • Moderately strong • Weak
• Occurs between • Occurs between • Occurs between
atoms in the same charged atoms) atoms in different
molecule ions molecules or parts of
• Electron pairs shared, • Electron transfer molecules
creating a strong bond from one atom to • Weak electrostatic
between atoms another, resulting in a attraction between
moderately strong areas of molecules
electrostatic attraction with opposite partial
between oppositely charge
charged ions
Key Terms:
chemical bonds- a force of attraction between atoms or ions
covalent bonds- involve the SHARING of electron pairs between atoms
electronegativity- measure of an atom’s ability to attract shared electrons to
itself electron- a small particle with a negative charge that is found in all atoms
hydrogen bonds- interaction involving a hydrogen atom located between a pair of other atoms
having a high affinity for electrons
ionic bond- type of linkage formed from the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged
ions in a chemical compound
proton- an elementary particle that is identical with the nucleus of the hydrogen atom that carries
a positive charge
neutron- a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of every atom except that of simple hydrogen
Module 4: Water
• Identify the special properties of water.
1. Excellent solvent that can dissolve a wide range of substances
2. cohesive
3. temperature tends to remain stable
4. ice (solid water) is less dense than liquid water
Water Molecule:
-formed through covalent bonds
-partial charging on water molecule causes hydrogen bonds to form between different water
molecules
Key Terms:
Adhesion- water likes to stick to other
things Cohesion- water likes to stick to itself
Hydrophilic- water loving
Hydrophobic- water fearing
surface tension- a measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface of a
liquid solute- a substance that is dissolved in a solution
solutions- a mixture where substances are distributed evenly. Has a solvent and a
solute solvent- dissolving substance in a solution
Introduction to Biology
(Western Governors
University)
,C190 Intro to Biology Study Guide
Unit 1: Biology: The Science of Life (Modules 1–2)
Module 1: Introduction to Biology
• Classify items as biotic (living) or abiotic (nonliving).
• Identify the levels of biological organization from atom to biome.
atom, molecule, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem,
biosphere
Key Terms:
abiotic- nonliving
atom- basic unit of matter, consists of a dense nucleus surrounded by
electrons biology- study of life
biome- areas of earth w/ similar
characteristics biosphere- all habitable zones
on the planet biotic- living
cell-smallest structural and functional unit of an organism
community- populations of different species interacting with one another
ecosystem- all of the living things in a particular environment
macromolecule- large molecules that are typically formed by
polymerization
molecule- atoms joined together, a chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held
together by a chemical bond
organ- collections of tissues that work together to carry out a common general
function organ system- higher level of organization that consists of functionally
related organs organelle- small structures existing w/in cells
organism- individual living entities that survive and reproduce as a unit
population- consists of all of the individuals of a species living in a specific
area
tissue- a group of cells that have similar structure and that function together as a unit
Module 2: Scientific Inquiry
• Apply the process of scientific inquiry to questions about the natural world.
• Relate experimental design to the process of scientific inquiry.
Key Terms: scientific inquiry- refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural
world and propose explanations based on the evidence derived from their work
Unit 2: Basic Chemistry and Biological Macromolecules
Module 3: Atoms and Chemical Bonding
• Describe what an atom is and the subatomic particles of which it is comprised.
Atoms are made up of protons and neutrons location w/in the nucleus, with electrons in orbitals
surrounding the nucleus
• Identify different types of chemical bonds.
Covalent Bond Ionic Bond Hydrogen Bond
, • Strong • Moderately strong • Weak
• Occurs between • Occurs between • Occurs between
atoms in the same charged atoms) atoms in different
molecule ions molecules or parts of
• Electron pairs shared, • Electron transfer molecules
creating a strong bond from one atom to • Weak electrostatic
between atoms another, resulting in a attraction between
moderately strong areas of molecules
electrostatic attraction with opposite partial
between oppositely charge
charged ions
Key Terms:
chemical bonds- a force of attraction between atoms or ions
covalent bonds- involve the SHARING of electron pairs between atoms
electronegativity- measure of an atom’s ability to attract shared electrons to
itself electron- a small particle with a negative charge that is found in all atoms
hydrogen bonds- interaction involving a hydrogen atom located between a pair of other atoms
having a high affinity for electrons
ionic bond- type of linkage formed from the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged
ions in a chemical compound
proton- an elementary particle that is identical with the nucleus of the hydrogen atom that carries
a positive charge
neutron- a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of every atom except that of simple hydrogen
Module 4: Water
• Identify the special properties of water.
1. Excellent solvent that can dissolve a wide range of substances
2. cohesive
3. temperature tends to remain stable
4. ice (solid water) is less dense than liquid water
Water Molecule:
-formed through covalent bonds
-partial charging on water molecule causes hydrogen bonds to form between different water
molecules
Key Terms:
Adhesion- water likes to stick to other
things Cohesion- water likes to stick to itself
Hydrophilic- water loving
Hydrophobic- water fearing
surface tension- a measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface of a
liquid solute- a substance that is dissolved in a solution
solutions- a mixture where substances are distributed evenly. Has a solvent and a
solute solvent- dissolving substance in a solution
