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ENVS > CH. 3 Vocab > Flashcards

CH. 3 Vocab Flashcards

1
Q

Elements

A

A chemical that cannot be broken down or separated into other chemicals

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2
Q

Molecules

A

Two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds

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3
Q

Atom

A

The most basic subunit of an element; supplies an element’s physical and chemical properties

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4
Q

Protons

A

Positively charged particles in the central nucleus of an atom

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5
Q

Neutrons

A

The electrically neutral particles in the nucleus of atoms

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6
Q

Electrons

A

Negatively charged particles surrounding the nucleus of an atom

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7
Q

Mass

A

The property responsible for the gravitational attraction of all matter to all other matter

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8
Q

Isotopes

A

Atoms of an element having different numbers of neutrons

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9
Q

Radioactive

A

Isotopes that have an unstable nuclei; they spontaneously “decay”, emitting various combinations of high-energy protons, neutrons, electrons, and radiation

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10
Q

Half-life

A

The length of time that it takes for half of a collection of atoms to undergo a chemical transformation. Ex.: the length of time required for half of the molecules of a radioisotope to decay

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11
Q

Compounds

A

Molecules that are made of more than one element

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12
Q

Covalent bonds

A

A strong bond formed when atoms share electrons

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13
Q

Ions

A

Electrically charged atoms or molecules for which the atom donating the electron has a net positive charge and the atom receiving the electron has a net negative charge.

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14
Q

Ionic bond

A

Chemical bonds that form between positiv ely charged ions and negatively charged ions.

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15
Q

Hydrogen bond

A

The bond formed by the attraction between the oxygen atom in one water molecule and a hydrogen atom in another water molecule

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16
Q

Solubility

A

The ability of a chemical to dissolve in a particular liquid

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17
Q

pH Scale

A

A quantitative representation of the relative amounts of hydrogen hydroxyl (-OH) ions in a substance

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18
Q

Organic molecules

A

Molecules composed of carbon atoms that are covalently bonded to hydrogen and other atoms; the primary structural and functional molecules of organisms

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19
Q

Inorganic compounds

A

Compounds that are not made up of carbon and hydrogen

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20
Q

Hydrocarbons

A

Organic molecules composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen atoms

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21
Q

Macromolecules

A

A large complex molecule composed of small organic molecules linked to one another

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22
Q

Polymers

A

Simple molecules linked together to form much larger chains or networks.

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23
Q

Carbohydrates

A

Organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

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24
Q

Sugars

A

Carbohydrates with the general chemical formula (CH2O)n, where n is between 3 and 7. A basic source of energy in most organisms and an ingredient in the synthesis of numerous other organic molecules

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25
Q

Starch

A

Polysaccharides composed of hundreds of glucose molecules. The bonds between these glucose molecules are easily broken in animal digestion

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26
Q

Cellulose

A

Polysaccharides composed of hundreds of glucose molecules that are bonded in a way that prevents digestion by most animals

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27
Q

Lipids

A

Organic molecules made of long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms and a shorter region with one to several oxygen molecules; usually fats and oils.

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28
Q

Polysaccharides

A

Polymers of simple sugar molecules

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29
Q

Proteins

A

Polymers made of nitrogen containing organic molecules called amino acids

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30
Q

Catalysts

A

Substance that promotes chemical reactions without being consumed in the reaction

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31
Q

Enzymes

A

Protein that serves as a catalyst

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32
Q

Nucleic acids

A

Polymers of chemical subunits called nucleotides

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33
Q

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A

The hereditary material that is passed from generation to generation in all organisms

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34
Q

Genes

A

Segment of DNA that carries the code used to synthesize, or build, specific proteins

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35
Q

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

A

Various nucleic acids that contain ribose and uracil as structural elements and that play a central role in the synthesis of proteins using information encoded in DNA

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36
Q

Transcription

A

DNA code for a particular gene rewritten as a segment of RNA

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37
Q

Translation process

A

The process of forming a protein molecule using the information contained in RNA, which serves as the template for the assembly of a specific protein

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38
Q

Genome

A

An organism’s complete set of DNA

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39
Q

Energy

A

The capacity to do work

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40
Q

Work

A

The force applied to an object over a distance

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41
Q

Potential energy

A

Energy stored in a system and available to do work in the future

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42
Q

Kinetic energy

A

The energy of motion

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43
Q

First law of thermodynamics

A

Energy can be transformed from one form to another, but it can be neither created nor destroyed; also called the law of energy conservation

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44
Q

Second law of thermodynamics

A

Every energy transformation increases disorder, or entropy. In any energy transformation, energy always tends to go from more usable or higher quality forms, to less usable or lower quality forms, such as heat

45
Q

Entropy

A

Describes the disorder or disorganization in a system

46
Q

Heat

A

Energy represented in the random motion of molecules

47
Q

Electromagnetic radiation

A

The energy of light

48
Q

Electromagnetic spectrum

A

The full range of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths; the energy of photons decreases from short wavelength gamma rays to long wavelength radio waves

49
Q

Temperature

A

A measure of the average kinetic energy of a collection of molecules

50
Q

Conduction

A

The direct transfer of heat by means of the collisions of molecules.

51
Q

Convection

A

Warm regions in a gas or liquid become less dense and rise, causing the gas or liquid to circulate.

52
Q

Radiation

A

The release of electromagnetic energy

53
Q

Latent heat transfer

A

Molecules with the highest kinetic energy evaporate, leaving behind molecules with lower kinetic energy and temperature

54
Q

Chemical energy

A

The potential energy associated with the formation or breakage of bonds between atoms

55
Q

Nuclear energy

A

The potential energy contained in the structure of matter itself

56
Q

Nuclear fission

A

occurs when the nucleus of an atom is split, producing two or more smaller nuclei and a great deal of electromagnetic and kinetic energy. The sum of the masses of the resulting products is slightly less than the mass of the original atom. The difference in the mass of the system before and after fission is equal to the electromagnetic and kinetic energy that is released.

57
Q

Nuclear fusion

A

Occurs when two atoms collide with so much energy that their nuclei fuse, forming an atom of a new element. The fusion of relatively small atoms, such as hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen, released energy as very small amounts of mass are converted to energy.

58
Q

Joule

A

The energy required to support a 1-kg mass against the force of gravity

59
Q

Calorie

A

The energy required to raise the temp of 1 g of water by 1 C (1 cal = 4.18 J)

60
Q

Watt-hour (Wh)

A

The energy unit most commonly used to measure the everyday use of electricity

61
Q

Core

A

The center of the Earth; it is composed of a mixture of nickel and iron, with smaller amounts of other heavy elements.

62
Q

Mantle

A

The layer of less dense rock above Earth’s core. The mantle, which is 2,900 km (1800 mi) thick, occupies about 70% of Earth’s total volume

63
Q

Magma

A

A liquid-like state of rocks in the upper mantle

64
Q

Crust

A

A thin veneer of solid and relatively light rocks above Earth’s mantle

65
Q

Lithosphere

A

An area of interaction between the crust and the upper reaches of the mantle; the zone of geologic activity that has shaped Earth’s surface and continues to do so

66
Q

Tectonic plates

A

A piece or plate of Earth’s crust that floats on top of the mantle. The positions of the plates are not fixed; rather, they slowly move in relation to each other.

67
Q

Transform fault boundaries

A

The zone along which tectonic plates slide past one another. This sliding may generate earthquakes

68
Q

Divergent boundaries

A

Separate tectonic plates that are moving apart; boundaries coincide with ocean ridges

69
Q

Convergent boundaries

A

The point at which tectonic plates collide

70
Q

Rock cycle

A

The process in which elements within Earth’s crust and mantle are slowly converted from one type of rock to another.

71
Q

Igneous rock

A

Rocks that form as magma solidifies

72
Q

Sedimentary rock

A

Rock that forms when sediments, such as sand, silt, and the remains of dead organisms, become “glued together” under pressure

73
Q

Metamorphic rocks

A

Rocks that form when great heat and pressure transform the physical and chemical properties of sedimentary or igneous rocks

74
Q

Biosphere

A

All of the organisms on Earth and the nonliving environment with which they interact

75
Q

Biogeochemical cycle

A

The flow of matter through an ecosystem

76
Q

Pools

A

In reference to nutrient cycling, a part of an ecosystem in which matter may reside, such as the atmosphere or soil.

77
Q

Fluxes

A

The rate at which matter moves from one pool to another.

78
Q

Mass-balance accounting

A

A method that allows scientists to account for changes in the abundance of an element within the ecosystem.

79
Q

Capital

A

The total amount (mass) of an element or molecule in a pool.

80
Q

Equilibrium

A

The condition when competing influences in a system are balanced. For example, when inputs of an element equal outputs from a pool, the capital of the element in that pool remains constant, and the pool is said to be in equilibrium

81
Q

Residence time

A

The average time that an atom of an element or molecule of a compound spends in a pool; easily calculated as the size of the equilibrium pool divided by the flux through the pool.

82
Q

Cycling time

A

The average time that it takes an element or molecule to make its way through an entire biogeochemical cycle.

83
Q

Macronutrients

A

Elements that organisms require in comparatively large amounts, such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur.

84
Q

Micronutrients

A

Elements that organisms require in very small amounts, such as molybdenum, manganese, and boron.

85
Q

Atmosphere

A

The layer of gases above a planet’s surface

86
Q

Atmospheric pressure

A

The force caused by the pull of gravity on a column of air.

87
Q

Troposphere

A

The lowest layer of the atmosphere based on differences in temperature and chemical properties.

88
Q

Stratosphere

A

The layer of the atmosphere that extends from 15 to about 48 km (9-30 mi) above Earth’s surface

89
Q

Ozone layer

A

The zone in the stratosphere that contains comparatively large amounts of oxygen in the form of ozone (O3)

90
Q

Mesosphere

A

The layer of the atmosphere where the air temperature can reach lows of -173C (-140F) at about 90km (55 mi)

91
Q

Thermosphere

A

The layer of the atmosphere that extends about 480 km (300mi) into space.

92
Q

Exosphere

A

The outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere where air is so thin that air molecules rarely collide

93
Q

Vapor pressure

A

The fraction of atmospheric pressure that is a consequence of water molecules

94
Q

Saturation vapor pressure

A

A measure of the maximum amount of water that air can hold at a given temperature

95
Q

Relative humidity

A

Measure of the extent to which air is saturated with water vapor, expressed as a percentage; vapor pressure/saturation vapor pressure x 100

96
Q

Dew point

A

The warmest temp at which the relative humidity of a mass of air is 100%

97
Q

Energy budget

A

A system of accounting that measures all the energy entering and leaving an ecosystem or the entire Earth

98
Q

Climate

A

The atmospheric conditions such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall that exist over large regions and relatively long periods of time

99
Q

Weather

A

Short-term variations in local atmospheric conditions

100
Q

Intertropical convergence zone

A

The band of rising air at the equator

101
Q

Hadley cells

A

Each of two atmospheric convection cells on either side of the equator

102
Q

Ferrel cells

A

Each of two atmospheric convection cells located between latitudes of 30 and 60 degrees

103
Q

Polar cells

A

Convection cells in the troposphere between latitudes of 60 and 90 degrees

104
Q

Coriolis effect

A

In reference to the atmosphere, the apparent change in wind direction due to Earth’s rotation. Air moving over the ground in a straight path toward the equator appears to be deflected from east to west. Air moving toward the poles appears to be deflected west to east.

105
Q

Ocean currents

A

Movement of ocean waters driven by Earth’s rotation, winds, and differences in water temperature

106
Q

Gyres

A

A pattern of circulation in surface ocean waters that is clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere

107
Q

Overturning ocean circulation

A

The three-dimensional circulation of ocean water around the world due to the differences in temperature and salinity, causing an exchange of surface water and water from the depths

108
Q

Upwelling

A

A process in which deep, cold ocean water rises toward the surface.

109
Q

Climatograph

A

Shows the pattern of seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation for a particular location.

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