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ACT Science Vocabulary Flashcards

1
Q

Acid

A

A compound that releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water; has a pH of less than 7

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2
Q

Absolute zero

A

Approximately -273° C; the lowest possible temperature

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3
Q

Algae

A

Simple, one-celled plantlike organism found in water or damp places; includes seaweeds, pond scum, and so on

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4
Q

Alloy

A

A substance composed of two or more metals

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5
Q

Atmosphere

A

The layer of air surrounding Earth

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6
Q

Atmospheric pressure

A

The pressure exerted by the atmosphere on every part of Earth’s surface; approximately 10 newtons per square centimeter

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7
Q

Atom

A

The smallest part of an element that is recognizable as that element

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8
Q

Barometer

A

An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure

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9
Q

Base

A

A compound that releases hydroxide ions in water; has a pH of more than 7; is sometimes called an alkali

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10
Q

Boiling point

A

The temperature at which additional thermal energy causes a substance to change from a liquid to a vapor

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11
Q

Calorie

A

A quantity of heat energy; the amount needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water 1° C

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12
Q

Carbohydrate

A

An organic compound-like sugar or starch that contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the ratio of 1:2:1; the human body’s main source of energy

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13
Q

Carcinogen

A

A cancer-causing agent

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14
Q

Carnivore

A

Meat-eater

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15
Q

Catalyst

A

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being changed by the reaction

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16
Q

Cell

A

The lowest-level structure of any living organism that can perform all the functions of life, including reproduction

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17
Q

Chlorophyll

A

The main pigment in plants that captures light energy during photosynthesis

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18
Q

Compound

A

A substance composed of two or more chemically bonded elements

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19
Q

Concentration

A

The exact amount of substance dissolved in a given amount of solvent; refers to a solution

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20
Q

Condensation

A

The process whereby a decrease in energy causes vapor particles to return to a liquid phase

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21
Q

Conductor

A

A material that allows heat or electricity to flow through it with minimal resistance

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22
Q

Control

A

A sample in which no variables are tested, thus serving as a basis for comparison

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23
Q

Control variable

A

A variable that stays constant in an experiment, allowing the effect of another variable to be measured

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24
Q

Convection

A

The circulation of fluid caused by warm fluid rising and cool fluid sinking

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25
Density
In a physics sense, the amount of mass per unit volume; in a more general sense, the quantity per unit area or volume
26
Diffusion
The scattering of light; the spreading of a liquid or gas from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration
27
DNA
Nucleic acid in the cells of an organism; contains the genes of an organism and transmits these to future generations
28
Ecological succesion
A sequence of changes in the plant and/or animal life of a region over time
29
Electron
A negatively charged fundamental atomic particle
30
Element
A substance consisting of exactly one type of atom
31
Erosion
Wearing away; typically the washing away of sand or rock by running water or wind
32
Evaporation
The changing of a fluid into gas
33
Fossil
The preserved remains of a very old organism
34
Frequency
The number of cycles per unit time of a repeating phenomenon
35
Glucose
A simple sugar that is broken down to provide energy to an organism
36
Habitat
The part of an ecosystem where a plant or animal naturally grows or lives
37
Herbivore
An animal that eats only plants
38
Hormone
A chemical substance secreted by a gland of the body that affects other parts of the body
39
Humidity
The amount of water vapor in the air
40
Hypothesis
A statement that is a proposed explanation of a scientific phenomenon
41
Infrared radiation
Electromagnetic waves whose wavelength is longer than that of visible light
42
Insulator
A substance that blocks the flow of heat or electricity
43
Ion
A molecule or atom that has become charged by either gaining or losing an electron
44
Isotope
A variety of an element with the same number of protons per atom but a different number of neutrons
45
Kinetic energy
The energy of an object due to its motion
46
Melting point
The temperature at which additional thermal energy breaks the chemical bonds holding a substance together and causes the substance to change from the solid to a liquid state
47
Molecule
The smallest unit of a chemical compound
48
Neutron
A fundamental atomic particle that has no charge
49
Ore
A piece of rock from which metal can be profitably extracted
50
Osmosis
The movement of liquid through a membrane
51
Parasite
An organism that invades another organism and feeds off it
52
pH
A numerical scale from 1-14 representing the acidity or alkalinity of a solution; 1 is very acidic, 14 is very alkaline, and 7 is neutral
53
Photosynthesis
The process in which plants use the sun's energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose
54
Pressure
Force per unit area
55
Protein
A complex molecule composed of amino acids that carries out a variety of processes in cells
56
Proton
A positively charged fundamental atomic particle
57
Starch
A complex carbohydrate found in potatoes, rice, corn, and many other vegetables
58
Symbiosis
A close relationship between two organisms that is mutually beneficial
59
Ultraviolet radiation
Electromagnetic waves with wavelength shorter than that of visible light
60
Vapor
The gaseous form of a liquid
61
X ray
Electromagnetic radiation with wavelength shorter than ultraviolet radiation

SAT/ACT PREP (2 decks)

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