Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) 0654 Syllabus Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for reviewing the Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) 0654 syllabus, covering key terms and definitions from the course content.

Movement

An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.

Respiration

The chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism.

Sensitivity

The ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment.

Growth

A permanent increase in size and dry mass.

Reproduction

The processes that make more of the same kind of organism.

Excretion

The removal of waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements.

Nutrition

The taking in of materials for energy, growth, and development.

Diffusion

Net movement of particles from a region of their higher concentration to a region of their lower concentration.

Osmosis

Net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential through a partially permeable membrane.

Active Transport

Movement of particles through a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration, using energy from respiration.

Enzymes

Proteins that are involved in all metabolic reactions, where they function as biological catalysts.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants synthesise carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light.

Ingestion

The taking of substances (e.g., food and drink) into the body.

Digestion

The breakdown of food.

Absorption

The movement of nutrients from the intestines into the blood.

Assimilation

Uptake and use of nutrients by cells.

Egestion

The removal of undigested food from the body as faeces.

Transpiration

Loss of water vapour from leaves.

Translocation

The movement of sucrose and amino acids in phloem from sources to sinks.

Sources (in translocation)

Parts of plants that release sucrose or amino acids.

Sinks (in translocation)

Parts of plants that use or store sucrose or amino acids.

Pathogen

A disease-causing organism.

Transmissible Disease

A disease in which the pathogen can be passed from one host to another.

Active Immunity

Defence against a pathogen by antibody production in the body.

Aerobic Respiration

Chemical reactions in cells that use oxygen to break down nutrient molecules to release energy.

Anaerobic Respiration

Chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules to release energy without using oxygen.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a constant internal environment.

Asexual Reproduction

A process resulting in the production of genetically identical offspring from one parent.

Sexual Reproduction

A process involving the fusion of the nuclei of two gametes to form a zygote and the production of offspring that are genetically different from each other.

Species

A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen grains from an anther to a stigma.

Fertilisation

Fusion of the nuclei from a male gamete (sperm) and a female gamete (egg cell).

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)

An infection that is transmitted through sexual contact.

Gene

A length of DNA that codes for a protein.

Allele

An alternative form of a gene.

Variation

Differences between individuals of the same species.

Mutation

A genetic change.

Food Chain

Shows the transfer of energy from one organism to the next, beginning with a producer.

Food Web

A network of interconnected food chains.

Producer

An organism that makes its own organic nutrients, usually using energy from sunlight, through photosynthesis.

Consumer

An organism that gets its energy by feeding on other organisms.

Herbivore

An animal that gets its energy by eating plants.

Carnivore

An animal that gets its energy by eating other animals.

Decomposer

An organism that gets its energy from dead or waste organic material.

Trophic Level

The position of an organism in a food chain and food web.

Ecosystem

A unit containing the community of organisms and their environment, interacting together.

Biodiversity

The number of different species that live in an area.

Electrolysis

The decomposition of an ionic compound, when molten or in aqueous solution, by the passage of an electric current.

Exothermic Reaction

A reaction that transfers thermal energy to the surroundings, leading to an increase in the temperature of the surroundings.

Endothermic Reaction

A reaction that takes in thermal energy from the surroundings, leading to a decrease in the temperature of the surroundings.

Catalyst

Increases the rate of a reaction and is unchanged at the end of a reaction.

Redox Reactions

Reactions involving simultaneous oxidation and reduction.

Oxidation

Acquiring oxygen.

Reduction

Losing oxygen.

Amphoteric Oxides

Oxides that react with both acids and bases to produce a salt and water.

Hydrated Substance

A substance that is chemically combined with water.

Anhydrous Substance

A substance containing no water.

Alloys

Mixtures of a metal with other elements.

Saturated Compound

Molecules in which all carbon–carbon bonds are single bonds.

Unsaturated Compound

Molecules in which one or more carbon–carbon bonds are not single bonds.

Homologous Series

A series of compounds with similar chemical properties.

Hydrocarbons

Compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon only.

Polymers

Large molecules built up from many smaller molecules called monomers.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves a solute.

Solute

A substance that is dissolved in a solvent.

Solution

A mixture of one or more solutes dissolved in a solvent.

Saturated Solution

Contains the maximum concentration of a solute dissolved in the solvent at a specified temperature.

Residue

A solid substance that remains after evaporation, distillation, filtration, or any similar process.

Filtrate

A liquid or solution that has passed through a filter.

Speed

Distance travelled per unit time.

Velocity

Speed in a given direction.

Acceleration

Change in velocity per unit time.

Mass

A measure of the quantity of matter in an object.

Weight

The gravitational force on an object that has mass.

Gravitational Field Strength

Gravitational force per unit mass.

Density

Mass per unit volume.

Spring Constant

Force per unit extension.

Power

Work done per unit time.

Pressure

Force per unit area.

Refraction

The change in direction of a light ray passing from one medium to another.

Critical Angle

The angle of incidence at which the angle of refraction is 90° and above which all light is totally internally reflected.

Magnetic Field

A region in which a magnetic pole experiences a force.

Electric Field

A region in which an electric charge experiences a force.

Electric Current

Charge passing a point per unit time.

Electromotive Force (e.m.f.)

Electrical work done by a source in moving a unit charge around a complete circuit.

Potential Difference (p.d.)

Work done by a unit charge passing between two points in a circuit.

Half-Life

The time taken for half the nuclei of that isotope in any sample to decay.