Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Enviro > Chapter 2 - Environmental systems > Flashcards

Chapter 2 - Environmental systems Flashcards

0
Q

the salinity problem at Mono Lake was corrected after:

A
  1. Water was diverted and the lake filled back to historical levels
  2. the Audubon Society worked together with the Los Angeles Department of Water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

Problems developed at Mono Late as a consequence of the:

A

redirection of water that fed the lake for use by Los Angeles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Matter is:

A

Anything that has volume and mass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Electrons are

A

negatively charged

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

elements that gain or lose electrons to form compounds create

A

ionic bonds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

the polarity of a water molecule is the result of:

A

shared electrons spending more time near the oxygen atom than near the hydrogen atoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

water reaches its lowest density at:

A

0 degrees C.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Neutral on a pH scale

A

7

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Law of conservation of matter

A

matter cannot be created or destroyed, after a chemical reaction the original atoms remain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Organic compounds may contain:

A
  1. carbon-carbon bonds
  2. Carbon-hydrogen bonds
  3. hydrogen - oxygen bonds
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

DNA

A
  1. formed by long chains of nucleic acid

2. the genetic material organisms pass to their offspring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Energy

A

the ability to do work

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Most of earth’s energy comes from

A

the sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

energy conservation by living things is

A

a fundamental component of all environmental systems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

energy is measured in

A

joules or calories

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

the second law of thermodynamics states:

A

all systems move towards increased entropy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

a systems analysis of an ecosystem can involve:

A
  1. Inputs of nutrients
  2. outputs of energy
  3. evaporation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

positive feedback loop:

A
  1. when feedback into a system increases a rate of response

2. can be seen in some examples of population growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

negative feedback loop:

A

when a system responds to a change by returning to its original state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

extinction of a species can be a result of:

A
  1. natural systems changing
  2. introduction of an invasive species
  3. systems that are not in a steady state
  4. human inputs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Atom

A

smallest particle that can contain the chemical properties of an element

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

element

A

substance composed of atoms that cannot be broken down into smaller, simpler components

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

molecules

A

particles containing more than one atom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

compounds

A

molecules containing more than one element

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Atomic number
number of protons in the nucleus of an element
25
mass number
total number of protons and neutrons in an element
26
isotopes
atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons
27
radioactive decay
spontaneous release of material from the nucleus
28
half life
time it takes for half of the original radioactive parent atoms to decay
29
covalent bonds
formed by sharing electrons
30
ionic bond
attraction between two oppositely charged ions
31
hydrogen bond
weak chemical bond formed when hydrogen atoms that are covalently bonded to one atom are attracted to another atom on another molecule
32
polar molecule
one side is more positive and one side is more negative
33
surface tension
cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water
34
capillary action
adhesion of water molecules to a surface is stronger than cohesion between the molecules, allows water to be absorbed
35
acid
substance that contributes hydrogen ions to a solutions
36
base
substance that contributes hydroxide ions to a solution
37
pH scale
1. 0-14 2. low = acidic 3. high = basic 4. 7 = neutral
38
chemical reaction
when atoms separate from the molecules they are a part of or recombine with other molecules
39
inorganic compounds
compounds that do not contain the element carbon, or only contain carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen
40
organic compounds
compounds that have carbon-carbon bonds and carbon-hydrogen bonds
41
carbohydrates
composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms
42
proteins
long chains of nitrogen-containing organic molecules called amino acids
43
enzymes
proteins that help control the rates of chemical reactions
44
nucleic acid
organic compounds found in all living cells, form DNA and RNA
45
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid - genetic material organisms pass on to their offspring that contains the code for reproducing the components of the next generation
46
RNA
Ribonucleic acid - translates the code stored in DNA and allows for the synthesis of proteins
47
lipids
biological molecules that don't mix with water | examples - fats, wax, steroids
48
Cell
smallest structural and functional component of organisms
49
Energy
ability to do work or transfer heat
50
electromagnetic radiation
form of energy that includes visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared energy
51
photons
massless packets of energy that travel at the speed of light and can move even through the vacuum of space
52
joule
basic unit of energy
53
power
rate at which work is done
54
potential energy
energy that is stored but has not yet been released
55
kinetic energy
energy of motion
56
chemical energy
potential energy stored in chemical bonds
57
temperature
measure of the average kinetic energy of a substance
58
first law of thermodynamics
energy cannot be created or destroyed
59
second law of thermodynamics
when energy is transformed the quantity of energy remains the same but its ability to do work diminishes
60
energy efficiency
ratio of the amount of work that is done to the total amount of energy that is introduced into the system in the first place
61
energy quality
the ease with which an energy source can be used for work
62
entropy
randomness
63
open system
exchanges of matter or energy occur across system boundaries
64
closed system
matter and energy exchanges across system boundaries do not occur
65
inputs
additions to a given system
66
outputs
losses from the system
67
systems analysis
inputs, outputs, changes in the system under various conditions
68
steady state
inputs = outputs
69
feedback
the results of a process feed back into the system to change the rate of that process

Enviro (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions