Basic science terms - ACT

Terms that the ACT assumes you already know for the science section

Lysosomes

Hold enzymes, digests food / breaks down the cell when it dies.

Mitochondria

Acts like a digestive system, takes in nutrients, breaks them down, creates energy rich molecules (ATP) for the cell.

Cell nucleus

Brain of the cell. Contains cell’s DNA, helps control eating, movement, and reproduction.

Chloroplasts

Only exists in plant cells, assists in process of photosynthesis.

Cell membrane

Holds all pieces of cell and serves as barrier between the cell and other cells.

DNA

Contains the genetic information needed for making proteins (protein synthesis).

Protein synthesis involves

DNA, RNA, ribosomes, and proteins.

DNA acts as

blueprint for protein production

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Makes a copy of the sequence of DNA in a specific gene. This process is known as transcription and happens in the nucleus.

Ribosomes

use mRNA as a guide (they bind to the mRNA) to make proteins of the same amino acid sequence as the original DNA.

This process of producing protein from the mRNA is referred to as

translation.

Process of protein synthesis consists of two steps:

DNA to mRNA transcription and mRNA to protein translation.

Natural selection

In a specific environment, traits that allow organisms to reproduce more effectively will become more common, and traits that reduce reproductive success will become less common.

Basic sugar molecular structure

C₆H₁₂O₆

Fats molecular structure

fats are made up of C (carbon), H (hydrogen), and O (oxygen), fats have nearly twice the number of H as C and a very small number of O.

Proteins are composed of

amino acids

Protein molecular structure

C,H,O,N

Nucleic acids are

biomolecules

Nucleic acid molecular structure

a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Water freezes at

0 degrees celsius

Water boils at

100 degrees celsius

pH below 7 is

acidic

pH above 7 is

basic

Molar mass

the mass of a molecule is the sum of the mass of its atoms

Protons

positively charged

Electrons

negatively charged

Neutrons

no charge

like charges

repel

opposite charges

attract

Solubility

how quickly a substance will dissolve completely in a liquid.

Solute

substance being dissolved.

Solvent

liquid in which it is being dissolved.

2 conditions that effect solubility

temperature and pressure

Temperature and pressure increase solubility as they

increase

Ideal gas law

PV = nRT

P

absolute pressure of gas

V

volume of gas

n

number of particles (or the amount) of gas

R

ideal gas constant

T

absolute temperature of the gas

gravity

downward force that acts on objects

density formula

Density = mass/volume

density rules

denser objects sink, less dense objects float