SNC 1W1 Ecology, Chemistry, Space, and Electricity Exam Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Ecology, Chemistry, Space, and Electricity units based on the exam review notes.

Producer

An organism that produces its own source of food by photosynthesis, such as Fern, Lichen, Acorns, Douglas Fir, or Berries.

Carnivore

An organism that consumes other consumers, such as a Cougar, Woodpecker, Spotted Owl, or Winter Wren.

Herbivore

An organism that eats producers, such as a Mountain beaver, Deer, Vole, or Flying squirrel.

Predation

An ecological relationship where one organism preys on and eats another, such as the Lynx preying on the Snowshoe hare.

Abiotic

Non-living physical and chemical factors in the environment, such as wind, water temperature, water depth, and air.

Biotic

Living or once-living components of an ecosystem, such as bacteria, deer, apple trees, hawks, and the decaying remains of a dead tree.

Photosynthesis (Word Equation)

Carbon dioxide + Water + sunlight $\rightarrow$ sugar + oxygen

Photosynthesis (Chemical Equation)

$$CO_2 + H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + O_2$$

Cellular Respiration (Word Equation)

sugar + oxygen $\rightarrow$ Carbon dioxide + Water

Cellular Respiration (Chemical Equation)

$$C_6H_{12}O_6 + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O$$

Trophic Level

The feeding level of an organism in a food chain; for example, the first level consists of producers like pine trees and wild grasses.

Chemical Control

A method to control invasive species using chemicals to kill them, though it can have widespread negative impacts on an ecosystem.

Mechanical Control

Using barriers or removal tactics to restrict the movement of invasive species or to remove them from the environment.

Biological Control

Introducing a predator, virus, or bacteria to kill invasive species or make them unable to reproduce.

Physical Property

A characteristic of a substance used for identification, which can be qualitative (colour, lustre, texture) or quantitative (boiling point, density, melting point).

Chemical Property

A characteristic of a substance that describes its ability to undergo a change to its composition, such as being combustible or reacting to form an acid.

Atomic Number

The identifier of an element that is equal to the number of protons and the number of electrons in a neutral atom.

Mass Number

The atomic mass of an element rounded off to a whole number, representing the sum of protons and neutrons.

Metals

A class of elements characterized as being lustrous, malleable, ductile, good conductors, and solid.

Non-metals

A class of elements characterized as being gases or dull powder solids, brittle, and poor conductors.

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements that are very reactive because they seek to lose their one valence electron.

Alkaline Earth Metals

Group 2 elements that are reactive, but less so than Group 1.

Halogens

Group 17 non-metals that are very reactive because they only need one electron to fill their valence shell.

Noble Gases

Group 18 elements that are very stable because they have full valence shells.

Dalton (Atomic Theory)

Proposed the Billiard Ball Model, which describes the indivisible particle called an atom where each element is made of a different atom.

Rutherford (Atomic Theory)

Proposed the planetary model of the atom based on the Gold Foil Experiment; suggested the atom has positive protons in a nucleus and negative electrons in orbit.

Bohr (Atomic Theory)

Proposed energy levels for atoms where electrons orbit the nucleus at specific distances and can jump between orbitals if they absorb energy.

Chadwick (Atomic Theory)

The scientist who discovered the neutron and that neutrons are also located in the nucleus of the atom.

Limewater Test

The test for carbon dioxide gas where the liquid goes from clear to opaque with a white precipitate.

Glowing Splint Test

The test for oxygen gas where a glowing splint will relight.

Burning Splint Test

The test for hydrogen gas where a mini-explosion and popping noise are heard.

Ionic Bonding

A type of bonding involving a metal and a non-metal where electrons are transferred.

Covalent Bonding

A type of bonding involving non-metals where electrons are shared.

Terrestrial Planets

The four inner, rocky planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Gas Giants

The four outer, large planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Light Year

A unit of distance equal to $9.46 \times 10^{15}\,m$ or $9.46 \times 10^{15}\,km$.

Big Bang Theory

The theory that the universe began as an infinitely small single point approximately 14 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since.

Geocentric Model

A model of the solar system where the Earth is at the center.

Heliocentric Model

A model of the solar system where the Sun is at the center.

Osteoporosis

An Earthly disease involving loss of bone mass; in microgravity, astronauts can lose up to 2% of bone mass per month.

Aurora

A light display caused when charged particles from the sun hit the Earth's magnetic field and collide with atmospheric gas particles near the poles.

Direct Current (DC)

Electricity that flows in one direction only, typically found in a cell.

Alternating Current (AC)

Electricity that switches directions many times per second, typically found in wall outlets.

Induced Charge Separation

The movement of negative charges within a neutral object when a charged object is brought close to it, resulting in polarized charges on either side.

Ohmmeter

A device used to measure electrical resistance.

Ammeter

A device used to measure electric current.

Voltmeter

A device used to measure potential difference.