Science Terms Flashcards
allotrope
a substance created when an element combines with itself to become a compound. o3 (ozone) and C6 (diamond)
alloy
A metal that is a mixture composed of metal elements. Brass (copper with a bit of zinc), pewter (tin with a bit of lead) steel (iron with nickel and titanium
amber
petrified sap
ambergris
A waxy substance found floating in the tropical waters
annual
A plant that grows over only one season
apiary
A place where bees are kept
arthropod
A huge animal phylum that includes insects, crustaceans, arachnids
bryophyta
the category of plants that includes all mosses
Cambrian Period
Part of the Paleozoic Era, began when the oldest easily identifiable fossils first appeared
carnivorous
cats, birds of prey, sharks
Cenozoic Era
“recent life” when mammals and flowering plants began to flourish
class
A major subdivision of phyla into which organisms are classified.
compound
Any mixture of elements (H2O)
coniferous
cone bearing trees: pines, spruce, yews
Cretaceous Period
Part of the Mesozoic Era, the time during which dinosaurs peaked and then died out
deciduous
trees that lose their leaves in the winter: maple, oak, 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
eutheria
“placental” subclass of mammals that include mammals which nourish the fetus with a placenta: dogs, people, bats, whales
family
A subdivision of an order in the classification of living organisms. Under the order of primates, humans are classified into the family of hominidae
formicary
ant’s nest
genus
subdivision of a family. humans are classified in the genus Homo
granivore
An animal that eats grains and seeds: squirrels, voles, birds.
halogen
Any of the five elements that form part of group VIIA of the periodic table: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine
igneous rocks
rocks that solidify from a molten or partially molten state: basalt and granite
insectivore
anteaters, woodpeckers
Jurassic Period
Part of the Mesozoic Era, the middle period of dinosaur dominance
kingdom
the most basic classification unit of living organisms: Plant, Animal, Fungi, Moneran, Protista
marsupial
aka “metatheria” A form of mammal born without a placenta and nourished in its mother’s pouch after birth: kangaroo, koala, and opossum
Mesozoic Era
Geologic era between the Paleozoic Era to the Cenozoic Era, marked by the rise and fall of dinosaurs
metamorphic rocks
rocks that have been altered by heat, pressure, and/or the chemical action of fluids and gases: slate, quartzite, marble
metatheria
marsupial
mollusk
ANy of a large phylum of invertebrate animals enclosed in a shell- snail, clam, octopi, squids
Moneran
One of the basic kingdoms. Includes bacteria, primitive pathogens, blue-green algae
monotreme
protheria. A strange, primitive sort of mammal that reproduces by laying eggs. Platypuses and echidnas
noble gases
Elements found in the far right-hand side of the periodic table. Can’t mix with other elements. Argon, Helium, Krypton, Neon, and Xenon
perennial
tulip, azalea, maple trees
piscivore
seals, loons, penguins
pistil
the female reproductive organ of a plant
prokaryote
A cellular organism that does not have a distinct nucleus.
sedimentary rocks
shale, sandstone, limestone
species
human is Homo sapiens
stamen
the male reproductive organ of a plant
tracheophyta
plants with water-carrying systems that allow them to live on land solo, unlike mosses
Triassic Period
when dinosaurs first appeared
