AP Biology - Unit 1 Vocabulary

Capillary action

________- the movement of liquid along a surface of a solid caused by the attraction of molecules of the liquid to the molecules of the solid.

Atomic mass

________- number of protons plus number of neutrons averaged over all isotopes of an element.

Mode

________- value that appears most often in a data set.

Solvent

________- dissolving agent in a solution.

Inductive

________ reasoning- a type of logic in which generalizations are based on a large large number of specific observations.

Adhesion

________- when water molecules stick to non- water molecules.

Theory

________- an explanation that is broader in scope than a hypothesis, generates new hypotheses, and is supported by a large body of evidence.

Solute

________- substance that is dissolved.

Scientific law

________- statement of fact; describes an observation, doesnt explain how /why; generally accepted as true and universal.

Central tendencies

________- the center of the distribution of a data set, can be described by the mean, median, and mode.

Variability

________- measure of how far the data set diverges from the central tendency.

Octet rule

________- elements will gain, lose, or share electrons to complete their valence shell and become stable (like noble gases)

Deductive

________ reasoning- a type of logic in which specific results are predicted from a general premise.

Compound

________- a substance consisting of two or more elements combined in a fixed ratio.

Ionic bond

________- the attraction between oppositely charged atoms (usually between a metal and a nonmetal)

Solution

________- homogenous mixture of two or more substances.

Standard deviation

________- a measure of how spread out the data set is from the mean.

Element

________- a substance that cant be broken down into other substances in a chemical reaction.

Chemical bonds

________- an attraction between tow atoms, resulting from the sharing or transferring of electrons.

middle number

Median- ________ in a range of data points.

Control group

________- shows expected results, group is not manipulated by the independent variable.

Valence electrons

________- electrons in the outermost shell of an atom.

hypothesis

a explanation, based on observations and assumptions, that leads to a testable prediction

theory

an explanation that is broader in scope than a hypothesis, generates new hypotheses, and is supported by a large body of evidence

experimental group

identical to the control group in all ways, except for the independent variable (experimental results)

scientific law

statement of fact; describes an observation, doesnt explain how/why; generally accepted as true and universal

control group

shows expected results, group is not manipulated by the independent variable

deductive reasoning

a type of logic in which specific results are predicted from a general premise

inductive reasoning

a type of logic in which generalizations are based on a large large number of specific observations

constant

a quantity or variable that does not change during the experiment

alternative hypothesis

a hypothesis that may be supported by data

null hypothesis

a hypothesis that the researcher tries to disprove, reject, or nullify

independent variable

a factor whose value is manipulated or changed during an experiment to see how it effects the dependent variable

dependent variable

a factor whose value is measured during an experiment or other test to see whether it is influenced by the independent variable

central tendencies

the center of the distribution of a data set, can be described by the mean, median, and mode

mean

sum of all data points in a data set divided by number of data points (average of data set)

median

middle number in a range of data points

mode

value that appears most often in a data set

variability

measure of how far the data set diverges from the central tendency

range

difference between largest and smallest value in a data set

standard deviation

a measure of how spread out the data set is from the mean

standard error of the mean

used to determine the accuracy and confidence in the mean value

matter

anything that takes up space and has mass

element

a substance that cant be broken down into other substances in a chemical reaction

compound

a substance consisting of two or more elements combined in a fixed ratio

octet rule

elements will gain, lose, or share electrons to complete their valence shell and become stable (like noble gases)

capillary action

the movement of liquid along a surface of a solid caused by the attraction of molecules of the liquid to the molecules of the solid

chemical bonds

an attraction between tow atoms, resulting from the sharing or transferring of electrons

hydrogen bonds

the partially positive hydrogen atom in one polar covalent molecule will be attracted the an electronegative atom in another polar covalent molecule

covalent bond

when two or more atoms share electrons (usually between nonmetals)

ionic bond

the attraction between oppositely charged atoms (usually between a metal and a nonmetal)

cohesion

when water molecules stick to other water molecules

adhesion

when water molecules stick to non-water molecules

atomic mass

number of protons plus number of neutrons averaged over all isotopes of an element

solute

substance that is dissolved

solution

homogenous mixture of two or more substances

solvent

dissolving agent in a solution

valence electrons

electrons in the outermost shell of an atom

molecule

tow ore more atoms held together by covalent bonds