Midterm study guide Flashcards
study of life
biology
pseudoscience
claims, arguments, or method that are presented as science but do not follow scientific principles
most/least inclusive level of matter
biosphere/atoms
population
group of interbreeding individuals of the same species living in a given area
Community
Consists of all populations of all species in a given area
Ecosystem
A community interacting with its physical and chemical environment through the transfer of energy and materials
producers
make their own food using energy and nonbiological raw materials from the environment
consumers
obtain energy and nutrients from organisms or their remains
What is homeostasis?
Process in which cells and multi-celled organisms keeps their internal conditions within tolerable ranges by sensing and responding appropriately to change
How does energy move within an ecosystem?
Energy moves from producers through to consumer to predators. Also - from environment, through organisms, and to environment.
Is heat a usable energy source?
no
How do nutrients move within an ecosystem?
Producer makes food, consumers eat organisms, decomposers feed on remains, nutrients release from decomposing consumers and return to environment back to the producers
What is the purpose of DNA?
To guide ongoing cellular activities that sustain life.
-Growth, reproduction, development
characteristics of bacteria and archaea
dna not in nucleus, single celled
characteristics of eukarya
dna within nucleus, single or multi celled
components found in both proks and euks
plasma membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, dna
four main groups of euks
protists, plants, animals, fungi
the linnaean system
created by carl linnaeus, gives every species a unique two part scientific name
how are species classified
taxon/taxonomy
what techniques do biologists use to determine the species of living things?
compare traits, compare dna
components of the scientific name
genus and specific epithet
biological species concept
a species as one or more groups of individuals that potentially can interbreed, produce fertile offspring, and do not interbreed with other groups
hypothesis
testable explanation for a natural phenomenon
scientific theory
A hypothesis that stands after many years of systematic testing, is consistent with existing evidence, and is useful for making predictions about a wide range of phenomena
What is a control group?
Identical to the experimental group except for one variable: the characteristic or treatment being tested
What is an experimental group?
A set of individuals that have a certain characteristic or receive a certain treatment
What are variables?
Experimental factor that varies: a characteristic that differs among individuals or an event that differs over time
What is sampling error and how do scientists avoid this when developing an experiment?
A difference between results obtained from a suspect, and results from the whole.
-use a large subset/increase sample size
What is critical thinking?
the deliberate process of judging the quality of information before accepting it
Why should a scientist design experiments that will yield quantitative results?
To avoid bias
How do scientists avoid bias?
Blinding, systematic random sampling, quality control, control group
What is an element?
Pure substances consisting only of atoms with the same number of protons in their nucleus
What is an atom?
Smallest unit of matter
What are the components of an atom?
nucleus, protons, neutrons, electrons
atomic number represents
number of protons in an atom’s nucleus
atomic mass represents
total number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an isotope
subatomic particles location and properties
protons: positive in nucleus, neutrons: uncharged in nucleus, electrons: negative move around nucleus
what is the shell model
conceptual diagram of how electrons populate an atom
what are vacancies
when an atom’s outermost shell has room for another electron
How many electrons can be held within each shell of an atom?
First: 2 electrons
Second: 8 electrons
Third: 8 electrons
How does the Octet Rule help to determine bonding?
states that electron transfer or electron sharing proceeds until an atom has acquired an octet of electrons
Why are noble gases stable?
Full valence electron shells
How can we calculate the atomic mass (mass number) of a particular atom?
Total number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an isotope
How can we calculate the number of protons in an atom? neutrons?
protons: atomic number
neutrons: mass number - atomic number
What does it mean when an atom is neutral? What does it mean when an atom is positively or negatively charged?
Neutral: An atom with exactly the same number of electrons and protons
Positive: More protons than electrons
Negative: More electrons than protons
isotopes
atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons and same number of protons
ions
Atoms or molecules that carry a net charge
How does an atom become an ion?
By gaining or losing electrons
What type of bonding occurs from oppositely charged atoms
Ionic bond
What type of bonding occurs when the atoms share electrons?
Covalent bond
Why would an atom give, receive or share electrons?
To achieve stability
What makes H2O a polar molecule?
it has two polar covalent bonds. Oxygen atom carries a slight negative charge and each of the hydrogen atoms carries slight positive charge.
What are the major components of a solution?
solvent and solute
What is the pH of a solution?
a measure of its hydrogen ion concentration