Physical Science Final Exam Review

These flashcards cover important vocabulary terms and concepts from the Physical Science lecture notes for the Fall ’25 final exam review.

Independent variable

The 'other' variable that is manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent variable

The variable we are trying to find; the answer or result.

Hypothesis

An educated guess.

Mendeleev

Creator of the Periodic Table who left spaces for undiscovered elements.

Democritus

First to use the term 'atomos' for an indivisible particle.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Density

The mass per unit volume of a material.

Melting point

The temperature where a material changes from solid to liquid.

Boiling point

The temperature where a material changes from liquid to gas.

Viscosity

Resistance to flow.

Law of the Conservation of Matter

Matter can neither be created nor destroyed.

Atomic number

The number of protons in an atom (also the number of electrons).

Valence shell

The outermost energy ring/shell of an atom.

Valence electron

Electrons found in the outermost energy ring/shell.

Electron

A negatively charged particle found in the electron cloud of an atom.

Proton

A positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A neutral charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Nucleus

The central area of an atom containing protons and neutrons.

Atom

The smallest complete particle of matter, composed of a nucleus and an electron cloud.

Molecule

Two or more atoms combined chemically for stability.

Electron cloud

The area outside the nucleus containing the electrons.

Periodic Table

A table organizing all known elements.

Octet rule

Atoms are more stable with their outermost energy shell filled.

Noble gas

Elements found in group 8/18 with complete outer shells.

Ionic bond

A chemical bond where electrons are transferred between metals and nonmetals.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond where electrons are shared between nonmetals.

Ion

A charged atom formed in ionic bonding.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Conductor

A material that allows energy to pass through it (heat and electricity).

Insulator

A material that does not allow energy to pass through it (heat and electricity).

Oxidation number

The number of electrons that would be involved in bonding for an element.

Catalyst

A material that speeds up a reaction without being consumed.

Reactant

Matter combined to form a product, found left of the arrow in a chemical equation.

Product

Material formed in a chemical reaction, found right of the arrow in a chemical equation.

Kinetic Molecular Theory

Theory stating that all material is made up of atoms; atoms are always in motion; atoms collide producing molecules.

Subatomic particles

Protons (positive), Neutrons (neutral), Electrons (negative) that make up an atom.