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AP Environmental Science > APES Essential Vocab/Terms > Flashcards

APES Essential Vocab/Terms Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Organic

A

Complex molecules derived from or produced by living organisms that have carbon-hydrogen bonds

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2
Q

Inorganic

A

Simple molecules derived from nonliving components, that have no carbon-hydrogen bonds

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3
Q

Natural

A

Existing in or caused by nature, not by humankind

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4
Q

Synthetic

A

Not real or genuine; artificial

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5
Q

Kinetic energy

A

Energy of motion

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6
Q

Potential energy

A

Energy that is stored

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7
Q

Radioactive decay

A

The random process in which a nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation

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8
Q

Half life

A

The time it takes for 1/2 of the mass of a radioisotope to decay

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9
Q

Law of Conservation of Matter

A

The amount of matter stays the same, even when matter changes form

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10
Q

1st Law of Thermodynamics

A

Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another

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11
Q

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

A

When energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded to lower quality energy

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12
Q

Entropy

A

The amount of disorganization present in a system

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13
Q

Organism

A

An individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form

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14
Q

Species

A

A group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring

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15
Q

Population

A

All the organisms of the same group or species that live in a specific area and are capable of breeding among themselves

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16
Q

Community

A

An interacting group of various species in a shared or common location

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17
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community of organisms together with their physical environment

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18
Q

Producers/Autotrophs

A

Organisms that make their own food, also known as autotrophs

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19
Q

Consumers/Heterotrophs

A

Organisms that eat other living things, also known as heterotrophs

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20
Q

Decomposers

A

An organisms that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter

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21
Q

Photosynthesis reactants

A
  • Sunlight
  • Water
  • Co2
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22
Q

Photosynthesis products

A
  • Glucose
  • Oxygen
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23
Q

Cellular respiration reactants

A
  • Oxygen
  • Glucose
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24
Q

Cellular respiration products

A
  • Carbon dioxide
  • ATP
  • Water
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25
Q

Aerobic

A

Living, acting or occurring only in the presence of oxygen

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26
Q

Anaerobic

A

Living, acting, or occurring without oxygen

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27
Q

Adaptation

A

Modification of an organism, making it more fit under the conditions of its environment

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28
Q

Mutation

A

A change in the DNA sequence of an organism

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29
Q

Gene

A

The basic physical and functional unit of heredity

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30
Q

Trait

A

A specific characteristic of an individual

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31
Q

Chromosome

A

The vehicle that carries DNA wrapped around by histone proteins

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32
Q

Gene pool

A

The combination of all the genes, including alleles, present in a reproducing population of species

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33
Q

Natural selection

A

A process by which an organism adapts to its environment through selectively reproducing changes in its genotype

34
Q

Biodiversity

A

The enormous variety of life on Earth

35
Q

Extinction

A

The dying out of a species

36
Q

Plate tectonics

A

A scientific theory that explains how major landforms are created as a result of Earth’s subterranean movements

37
Q

Weathering

A

The breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on the surface of the Earth

38
Q

Climate change

A

Significant changes in global temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other measues of climate that occur over several decades or longer

39
Q

Minerals

A

Any inorganic element that is essential to nutrition

40
Q

Rocks

A

Solid, naturally formed substances that are found in or on the Earth

41
Q

Weather

A

The state of the air and atmosphere of a particular time and place

42
Q

Climate

A

The long-term pattern of weather in a particular area

43
Q

Clear Air Act (1963)

A

The USA’s primary federal air quality law, intended to reduce and control air pollution nationwide

44
Q

Clean Water Act (1972)

A

The USA’s primary federal law governing water pollution

45
Q

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (1973)

A

International law to protect endangered species from international trade, created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature

46
Q

Kyoto Protocol (1997)

A

Industrialized nations will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to below what they were in 1990, created by the UN

47
Q

Montreal Protocol (1987)

A

Protects the stratospheric ozone layer, created by the UN

48
Q

Endangered Species Act (1973)

A

The primary law in the USA for protecting and conserving endangered species and their habitats

49
Q

Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA) (1974)

A

The principal federal law in the USA, intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public

50
Q

Delaney Cause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1958)

A

A provision in the Food Additives Amendment that prohibits the addition of cancer-causing chemicals to food

51
Q

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (1976)

A

The principal federal law in the USA governing the disposal of solid and hazardous waste

52
Q

Carbon dioxide

A

CO2

53
Q

Carbon monoxide

A

CO

54
Q

Glucose

A

C6H12O6

55
Q

Methane

A

CH4

56
Q

Hydrogen

A

H2

57
Q

Water

A

H2O

58
Q

Hydrogen peroxide

A

H2O2

59
Q

Nitrogen

A

N2

60
Q

Nitrous oxide

A

N2O

61
Q

Nitric oxide

A

NO

62
Q

Nitrogen dioxide

A

NO2

63
Q

Nitrate

A

NO3-

64
Q

Anhydrous ammonia

A

NH3

65
Q

Ammonium cation

A

NH4+

66
Q

Oxygen

A

O2

67
Q

Ozone

A

O3

68
Q

Phosphorus

A

P

69
Q

Phosphate ion

A

PO43-

70
Q

Sulfur

A

S

71
Q

Sulfur dioxide

A

SO2

72
Q

Chlorine

A

CI2

73
Q

Potassium

A

K

74
Q

Sodium chloride

A

NaCI

75
Q

Lead

A

Pb

76
Q

Mercury

A

Hg

77
Q

Radon

A

Rn

78
Q

Uranium

A

U

79
Q

Nitric acid

A

HNO3

80
Q

Sulfuric acid

A

H2SO4

81
Q

Carbonic acid

A

H2CO3

AP Environmental Science (5 decks)

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