BY 101 Exam 1 Study Guide Vocabulary

Vocabulary key terms derived directly from the BY 101 Exam 1 Study Guide, including concepts in biology, taxonomy, scientific method, and introductory chemistry.

Scientific Method Steps

The five-step empirical process consisting of Observation, Hypothesis, Predictions & Experiments, Data Collection & Statistical Analysis, and Results & Conclusion.

Carolus Linnaeus

The taxonomist who developed the scientific system for naming organisms using Latin binomial nomenclature (genus and species).

Ordered Complexity

A characteristic of life referring to the complex, highly organized hierarchical levels of structure found within living organisms.

Homeostasis

A characteristic of life involving the maintenance of stable internal biological conditions despite external changes.

Adaptation

A characteristic of life where organisms possess traits that enhance their survival and function in specific environments.

Archaea

A domain of prokaryotic organisms known for living in specialized and extreme environmental habitats.

Anthropocene

The term used to describe the current potential sixth great mass extinction in Earth's history.

Carbon-14 ($^{14}\text{C}$)

A radioactive isotope with a half-life of $5,730\text{ years}$ used in dating organic matter.

Compound Molecule

A molecule consisting of two or more different elements chemically bonded together in fixed proportions.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that carries an overall electric charge due to gaining or losing electrons.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed between oppositely charged ions through electrostatic attraction without sharing electrons.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when two atoms share electrons; can be polar or non-polar.

Electronegativity

An atom's capacity to attract electrons in a bond, exemplified by the stronger element in $\text{NaCl}$ with an atomic number of $17$.

Hydrogen Bonding

A type of chemical bond critical for maintaining the structural stability and properties of water, proteins, and DNA.

Hydrophilic

Refers to polar or charged substances that have an affinity for water and interact readily with or dissolve in it.

pH

A scale used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution based on its hydrogen ion concentration.