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ACT Flashcards > Science Vocab > Flashcards

Science Vocab Flashcards

1
Q

acid

A

a compund taht releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water; pH <7

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2
Q

Absolute Zero

A

~273 deg. C; lowest possible temperature

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3
Q

Algae

A

simple, one-celled plantlike organism found in water or damp places; includes seaweeds and pond scum

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4
Q

Alloy

A

a substance composing of two or more metals

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5
Q

atmosphere

A

layer of air around the earth

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6
Q

atmospheric pressure

A

pressure exerted by the atmosphere on every part of the earth’s surface; ~10 newtons per sq. centimeter

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7
Q

Atom

A

the smallest part of an element that is still recognized as that element

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8
Q

barometer

A

an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure

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9
Q

base

A

a compund that releases hydrogen ions in water; has pH>7; sometimes called an alkali

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10
Q

boiling point

melting point

A

the temperature at which additional thermal energy causes a substance to change from a liquid to a vapor

the temperature at which additional thermal energy breaks chemical bonds holding a substance together and causes that substance to change from a solid state to a liquid state

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11
Q

calorie

A

a quantitty of heat energy; the amount needed to raise the temperature of one gram 1 deg. C

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12
Q

Carbohydrate

A

an organic compund like sugar or starch that contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the ratio of 1:2:1; the human body’s main source of energy

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13
Q

carcinogen

A

a cancer causing substance

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14
Q

carnivore
herbivore
omnivore

A

meat-eater
plant-eater
both-eater

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15
Q

catalyst

A

a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used in the reaction

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16
Q

cell

A

the lowest-level structure of any living organism that can perform all the functions of life, including reproduction

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17
Q

chlorophyll

A

the main pigment in plants that captures light energy during photosynthesis

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18
Q

compound

A

a substance composed of two or more chemically bonded elements

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19
Q

concentration

A

the exact amount of substance dissolved in a given amount of solvent; refers to a solution

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20
Q

condensation

A

the process whereby a decrease in energy causes vapor particles to return to a liquid state

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21
Q

conductor

A

a material that allows heat or electricity to flow through it with minimal resistance

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22
Q

control

A

a samle in which no variables are tested, thus serving as a basis for comparison

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23
Q

control variable

A

a variable that stays constant in an experiment, allowing the affects of another variable to be measured

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24
Q

convection

A

the circulation of fluid caused by warm fluid rising and cold fluid sinking

25
Q

density

A

in a physics sense, the amount of mass per unit volume; in a more general sense, the quntity per unit area volume
P = m/V

26
Q

difussion

A

the scattering of light; the spreading of a liquid or gas from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration

27
Q

DNA

A

Deoxyribonucleic acid

Nucleic acid in the cells of an organism; contains the genes of an organism and transmits these to future generations

28
Q

Ecological succesion

A

a sequence of changes in the plant and/or animal life of a region over time

29
Q

electron

A

a negatively charged fundamental atomic particle

30
Q

element

A

a substance consisting of exactly one type of atom

31
Q

erosion

A

wearing away; typically the washing away of sand or rock by running water or the wind

32
Q

evaporation

A

the changing of a fluid into a gas

33
Q

fossil

A

the preserved remains of a very old organism

34
Q

frequency

A

the number of cycles per unit time of a repeating phenomenon

F = 1/T

35
Q

Glucose

A

a simple sugar that is broken down to provide energy to an organism

36
Q

habitat

A

the part of an ecosystem where a plant or an animal naturally grows or lives

37
Q

hormone

A

a chemical substance secreted by a gland of the body that affects other parts of the body
Endocrine System

38
Q

humidity

A

the amount of water vapor in the air

39
Q

hypothesis

A

a statement that is a proposed explaination of a scientific phenomenon

40
Q

infrared radiation

A

electromagnetic waves whose wavelength is LONGER than that of visible light

41
Q

insulator

A

a substance that blocks flow of heat or electricity

42
Q

ion

A

a molecule or atom that has become charged by either gaining or losing an electron

43
Q

isotope

A

a variety of an element with the same number of protons per atom but a different number of neutrons

44
Q

kinetic energy

potential energy

A

the energy of an object due to its motion

45
Q

molecule

A

the smallest unit of a chemical compound

46
Q

neutron

A

a fundamental atomic particle that has no charge

47
Q

Ore

A

a piece of rock from which metal can be profitably extracted

48
Q

Osmosis

A

the movement of liquid through a membrane

49
Q

Parasite

A

An organism that invades another organism and feeds off of it

50
Q

pH

A

1-6 acid
7 - neutral (water)
8-14 base

51
Q

Photosynthesis

A

the processs in which plants use the sun’s energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose
CO2 + H2O + light = glucose + O2

52
Q

Pressure

A

force per sq. unit area

P = F/A

53
Q

Protein

A

a complex molecule composed of amino acids that carries out a variety of processes in cells

54
Q

starch

A

a complex carbohydrate found in potatoes, rice, corn, and many other vegetables

55
Q

sympiosis

A

a close relationship between two organisms that is mutually beneficial

56
Q

ultraviolet radiation

A

electromagnetic waves with wavelength SHORTER than that of visible light

57
Q

Vapor

A

the gaseous form of a liquid

58
Q

X ray

A

electromagnetic wave with wavelength SHORTER than that of Ultraviolet Light

ACT Flashcards (5 decks)

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