Introduction to Environmental Science, Matter, and Energy

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental concepts in environmental science, atmospheric sciences, ecology, ethics, states and classifications of matter, separation techniques, and chemical versus physical properties.

Environmental Science

A multidisciplinary science embracing branches like life sciences, biology, chemistry, agriculture, public health, and sanitary engineering that deals with both applied and theoretical facets of human influence on the world.

Atmospheric Sciences

A broad field dealing with the study of the atmosphere, its processes, the effects other systems have on the atmosphere, and the effects of the atmosphere on these other systems, covering meteorology, climatology, and aeronomy.

Ecology

The scientific study of the relationships between organisms and their environment, coined in 1866 by German zoologist Ernst Haeckel from the Greek words 'oikos' (meaning family of households or house/surrounding) and 'logy' (meaning study of or knowledge).

Environmental Chemistry

A scientific discipline focused on chemical changes in the environment, primarily covering soil contamination, water pollution, chemical degradation, multi-phase transport, and chemical effects.

Geosciences

A scientific study of the Earth's crust that includes environmental geology, environmental soil science, volcanic phenomena, and hydrology such as oceanography.

Ethics

A branch of philosophy derived from the logical application of human values that provides standards of conduct to distinguish between behaviors considered right or wrong.

Frontier Ethic

An anthropocentric (human-centered) attitude toward resources that assumes Earth has an infinite supply, measuring only human needs and assuming human ingenuity or new areas will provide substitutes if resources run out.

Environmental Ethics

A field of applied ethics considering the moral basis of environmental responsibility, placing limits on human activities and viewing humans as part of the natural community rather than managers of it.

Sustainable Ethic

An environmental ethic based on treating Earth's resources as limited, requiring humans to use and conserve resources in a manner that allows their continued use in the future.

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass, which makes up things in the Universe and is composed of elements.

Atom

The smallest particle that exhibits the unique chemical characteristics of an element, composed of subatomic particles known as protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Proton

A subatomic particle with a positive electrical charge located inside the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with no electric charge located inside the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative electrical charge found orbiting outside the nucleus on its energy level.

Nucleus (Atom)

The most massive part of an atom, located at its center and composed of protons and neutrons.

Solid

A rigid state of matter with a definite shape and definite volume, whose particles vibrate around fixed positions.

Liquid

A state of matter with no definite shape and a definite volume, whose particles are free to move over each other while remaining attracted to one another.

Gas

A highly compressible state of matter with no definite shape and no definite volume, whose particles move in random motion with little or no attraction to each other.

Plasma

The fourth state of matter with no definite shape or volume, in which particles are highly excited or ionized and can generate and conduct electric current.

Mixture

Matter composed of different substances in varying proportions that retain their individual identities and can be separated by physical methods.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture having uniform composition and properties throughout with indistinguishable parts and one visible phase; also called a solution.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture not uniform in composition and properties throughout, possessing distinguishable parts and more than one visible phase.

Pure Substance

Matter having an invariant, constant composition and distinct properties that can only be separated by chemical methods or reactions.

Element

A fundamental pure substance that cannot be broken down or decomposed into simpler substances by chemical or physical means.

Compound

A substance composed of two or more elements in fixed proportions combined chemically, which can only be broken down into elements by chemical processes.

Distillation

A separation process and technique used to separate a mixture based on differences in the boiling points of the substances involved.

Filtration

A separation method used to separate a solid from a liquid using a semi-permeable filter paper.

Chromatography

A method of separation requiring two phases—a stationary phase (such as filter paper) and a mobile phase (a solvent that travels carrying samples with it).

Physical Property

A tangible characteristic observable or measurable without changing the identity or composition of the substance, such as color, melting point, conductivity, or density.

Chemical Property

A characteristic observable or measurable as a substance changes into or interacts with another substance, such as flammability, corrosiveness, or reactivity with acids.