Chapter 3 Flashcards
matter
any material that has mass and occupies space
atom
the basic unit of matter; the smallest unit that maintains the chemical properties of an element
element
a chemical substance with a unique set of properties that cannot be broken down into substances with other properties
nucleus
the central core of an atom; consists of protons and neutrons
molecule
a combination of 2 or more atoms
compound
a substance combining atoms of two or more different elements
hydrocarbon
an organic compound combining hydrogen and carbon
solution
a mixture in which all the ingredients are evenly distributed
macromolecule
a large organic molecule; includes proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids
protein
an organic compound made up of cabon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur
nucleic acid
the macromolecule that carries hereditary information like RNA and DNA
carbohydrate
an organic compound that consists of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
lipid
chemically diverse compound that does not dissolve in water
pH
a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution
feedback loop
the part of a system in which some portion of that system’s output is used as input for future behavior(positive drives it to extreme,negative stabilizes)
erosian
the removal of soil by water, wind, ice, or gravity
geosphere
all the rock at and below earths surface
lithosphere
sphere of earth made up of the hard rock on and just below earths surface; the outermost layer of both earth and its geosphere
biosphere
the earth and all of its organisms and environments
atmosphere
the thin layer of gases that surrounds earth
hydrosphere
all of the water in any form above and below earths surface and int eh atmosphere
crust
thin layer of rock that forms earths outer surface on land and in the ocean
mantle
layer of very hot but mostly solid rock beneath earths crust
core
the layer of earth below the mantle
tectonic plate
one of the rigid layers of the lithosphere
landform
mountain, island, or continent formed by the collisions and separations of tectonic plates
deposition
the movement and accumulation of eroded soil
evaporation
change in state from liquid to gas
transpiration
the release of water vapor by plants through their leaves
precipitation
return of water from the atmosphere to the earths surface in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail
condensation
change in state from a vapor to a liquid
aquifer
sponge like formation of rock, sand, or gravel that holds water
groundwater
fresh water found below earths surface
law of conservation of matter
principle that states that matter can change form but cannot be created or destroyed
nutrient
matter that organisms need to carry out their life processes
biogeochemical cycle
circulation of nutrients through the atmosphere; also called the nutrient cycle
primary producer
organism that can capture energy from the sun or from chemicals and store it
photosynthesis
process by which primary producers use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars, releasing oxygen
consumer
organism that relies on other organisms for energy and nutrients; also called heterotroph
decomposer
organism that breaks down nonliving matter into simple parts that can then be taken up and reused by primary producers
cellular respiration
process which organisms use oxygen to release the chemical energy of sugars, producing carbon dioxide and water(opposite of photosynthesis)
eutrophication
introduction of phosphorus and nitrogen into a body of water that leads to an overgrowth of algae and other producers
nitrogen fixation
conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia
Water cycle
hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere
Liquid, Solid, and gaseous: Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation, and precipitation
carbon cycle
atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere
phosphorus cycle
biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
nitrogen cycle
atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere
protons
in the middle and is a positive charge
neutrons
in the middle and has no charge
electrons
in the outer rings and has a negative charge
