General Science Terms Flashcards
allotrope
A substance created when an element combines with itself to become a compound. Examples include O3 (ozone) and C6 (diamond).
alloy
A metal that, unlike iron, gold, silver, or aluminum, is a mixture composed of metal elements. Examples include brass (Copper with a bit of zinc), bronze (copper and tin with a bit of zinc), pewter (tin with a bit of lead usually), and steel (iron with nickel and titanium).
amber
Petrified sap; many early fossils have been found preserved in amber.
ambergris
A waxy substance found floating on or on the shores of tropical waters; originates in the intestines of the sperm whale.
annual
A plant that grows over only one season; examples include many common flowers such as impatiens, zinnias, and sunflowers.
apiary
A place where bees are kept.
arthropod
A huge animal phylum that includes insects, crustaceans, and arachnids (spiders).
avian
Of or relating to birds.
bryophyta (mosses)
The category of plants that includes all mosses.
Cambrian Period
Part of the Paleozoic Era, the period that began when the oldest easily identifiable fossils first appeared. (544-489 million years ago).
carnivorous
Describing an animal whose principal diet is meat based; examples include cats, birds of prey, sharks, etc.
Cenozoic Era
Meaning “recent life,” when mammals and flowering plants began to flourish. (65 million years ago to present)
class
A major subdivision of phyla into which organisms are classified. For instance, some of the major classes of chordata (vertebrates) are mammalia (mammals), ave (birds), reptilia (reptiles), and amphibia (amphibians).
compound
Any mixture of elements, such as H2O (water) and NaCl (salt).
coniferous
Describing cone-bearing trees, such as pines, spruce, and yews, that don’t lose their leaves in the winter and usually have needles as leaves.
Cretaceous Period
Part of the Mesozoic Era, the time during which dinosaurs peaked and then died out and mammals and flowering plants first appeared. (144-65 million years ago)
deciduous
Describing trees that lose their leaves in the winter, such as maple, oak, and sycamore.
eon
Great span of time defined by major events.
epoch
Division of geologic time less than a period and greater than an age.
era
Unit of geologic time that includes two or more periods grouped together.
eukaryote
An organism composed of one or more cells containing visibly evident nuclei and organelles. Includes all plants and animals. Compare to prokaryote.
eutheria
Also known as “placental.” The subclass of mammals that includes most mammals which bear young live and nourish the fetus with a placenta. This subclass includes dogs, people, bats, and even whales.
family
A subdivision of an order in the classification of living organisms. For instance, under the order of primates, humans are classified into the family of hominidae, which also includes the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan (the great apes).
formicary
Another word for an ant’s nest.
genus
A subdivision of a family under the classification of living organisms. For instance, under the order of primates, humans are classified into the genus Homo.
granivore
An animal adapted to eating grains and seeds; examples include squirrels, voles, and many bird species.
halogen
Any of the five elements fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At) that form part of group VIIA of the periodic table and exist in the free state normally as a diatomic molecules.
herbivore
An animal whose principal diet is plant based; examples include deer, antelope, koala bears, rabbits, etc.
igneous rocks
Rocks that solidify from a molten or partially molten state. Examples include basalt and granite.
insectivore
An animal adapted to eating insects. Examples include anteaters, woodpeckers, etc.
Jurassic Period
Part of the Mesozoic Era, the middle period of dinosaur dominance, known as the “age of giants.” (213-144 million years ago)
kingdom
The most basic classification unit of living organisms. There are five kingdoms: Plant, Animal, Fungi, Moneran (bacteria, blue-green algae, and primitive pathogens that have prokaryotic cells), and Protista (primitive, animal-like organisms distinguished by method of locomotion).
marsupial
Also known as “metatheria.” A form of mammal born without a placenta and therefore nourished in its mother’s pouch after birth. Its species include the kangaroo, the koala bear, and the opossum.
Mesozoic Era
Geologic era between the Paleozoic Era to the Cenozoic Era, marked by the rise and fall of the dinosaurs. (248-213 million years ago)
metamorphic rocks
Rocks that have been altered by heat, pressure, and/or the chemical action of fluids and gases. Examples include slate, quartzite, and marble.
metatheria
Also known as “marsupial.” A form of mammal born without a placenta and therefore nourished in its mother’s pouch after birth. Its species include the kangaroo, the koala bear, and the opossum.
mollusk
Any of a large phylum (Mollusca) of invertebrate animals (including snails, clams, octopi, and squids) with a soft, unsegmented body usually, buy not always, enclosed in a shell.
Moneran
One of the basic kingdoms under which living organisms are classified. Includes all prokaryotic organisms, including bacteria, blue-green algae, and primitive pathogens.
monotreme
Also known as “protheria.” A strange, primitive form of mammal that reproduces by laying eggs. Found only in Australia, the order comprises platypuses and echidnas.
noble gases
Elements found in the far right-hand side of the periodic table. They can’t mix with other elements, so they are called inert. Examples include argon (Ar), helium (He), krypton (Kr), neon (Ne), and xenon (Xe).
omnivore
An animal adapted to eating both plant and animal matter; examples include humans and other primates, bears, many turtle species, ravens, etc.
order
A subdivision of a class of living organisms. For instance, some of the orders found under the class mammalia eutheria (placental mammals) are primates, rodentia (rodents), and cetacea (whales).
perennial
A plant that has more than one growing cycle and does not need to be replanted; examples include tulips, azaleas, and maple trees.
period
Subdivision of an era marked by evolutionary changes less dramatic than those used to differentiate eras.
phylum
A primary unit of division of a kingdom. For instance, major phyla of the Animal Kingdom include Chordata (vertebrates), Arthropoda (insects, crustaceans, and arachnids), and Mollusca (including, bivalves, snails, octopi, squid, etc.)
piscivore
An animal whose principal diet is fish based; examples include seals, loons, penguins, and many fish species.
pistil
The female reproductive organ of a plant.
placental
See eutheria.
prokaryote
A cellular organism (such as a bacterium or a blue-green algae) that does not have a distinct nucleus (compare to eukaryote). Comprises organisms of the Moneran Kingdom only.
protheria
See monotreme.
Protista
One of the basic kingdoms under which living organisms are classified. Consists of primitive, animal-like organisms distinguished by method of locomotion.
sedimentary rocks
Rocks that are formed by becoming compacted and cemented over time. Examples include shale, sandstone, and limestone.
species
A subdivision of a genus and the final division of classification for living organisms. For instance, under the genus Homo, humans are classified as the species Homo sapiens.
stamen
The male reproductive organ of a plant.
tracheophyta (vascular plants)
Plants with water-carrying systems that allow them to live on land solo, unlike mosses. These include most flowering plants.
Triassic Period
Part of the Mesozoic Era, the period when dinosaurs first appeared. (248-213 million years ago)
