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