abstract
opening section of a scientific paper that summarizes the research and conclusions
applied science
form of science that aims to solve real-world problems
atom
smallest and most fundamental unit of matter that retains the properties of an element
basic science
science that seeks to expand knowledge and understanding regardless of the short-term application of that knowledge
biochemistry
study of the chemistry of biological organisms
biology
the study of life
biosphere
collection of all the ecosystems on Earth
botany
study of plants
cell
smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living things
community
set of populations inhabiting a particular area
conclusion
section of a scientific paper that summarizes the importance of the experimental findings
control
part of an experiment that does not change during the experiment
deductive reasoning
form of logical thinking that uses a general inclusive statement to predict specific results
descriptive science
(also, discovery science) form of science that aims to observe, explore, and investigate
discussion
section of a scientific paper in which the author interprets experimental results, describes how variables may be related, and attempts to explain the phenomenon in question
ecosystem
all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic, nonliving parts of that environment
eukaryote
organism with cells that have nuclei and membrane-bound organelles
evolution
the process of gradual change in a population or species over time
falsifiable
able to be disproven by experimental results
homeostasis
ability of an organism to maintain constant internal conditions
hypothesis
suggested explanation for an observation, which one can test
hypothesis-based science
form of science that begins with a specific question and potential testable answers
inductive reasoning
form of logical thinking that uses related observations to arrive at a general conclusion
introduction
opening section of a scientific paper, which provides background information about what was known in the field prior to the research reported in the paper
life science
field of science, such as biology, that studies living things
macromolecule
large molecule, typically formed by the joining of smaller molecules
materials and methods
section of a scientific paper that includes a complete description of the substances, methods, and techniques that the researchers used to gather data
microbiology
study of the structure and function of microorganisms
molecular biology
study of biological processes and their regulation at the molecular level, including interactions among molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins
molecule
chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by one or more chemical bonds
natural science
field of science that is related to the physical world and its phenomena and processes
neurobiology
study of the biology of the nervous system
organ
collection of related tissues grouped together performing a common function
organ system
level of organization that consists of functionally related interacting organs
organelle
small structures that exist within cells and carry out cellular functions
organism
individual living entity
paleontology
study of life’s history by means of fossils
peer-reviewed manuscript
scientific paper that a scientist’s colleagues review who are experts in the field of study
phylogenetic tree
diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in genetic or physical traits or both; in essence, a hypothesis concerning evolutionary connections
physical science
field of science, such as geology, astronomy, physics, and chemistry, that studies nonliving matter
plagiarism
using other people’s work or ideas without proper citation, creating the false impression that those are the author’s original ideas
population
all of the individuals of a species living within a specific area
prokaryote
single-celled organism that lacks organelles and does not have nuclei surrounded by a nuclear membrane
results
section of a scientific paper in which the author narrates the experimental findings and presents relevant figures, pictures, diagrams, graphs, and tables, without any further interpretation
review article
paper that summarizes and comments on findings that were published as primary literature
science
knowledge that covers general truths or the operation of general laws, especially when acquired and tested by the scientific method
scientific method
method of research with defined steps that include observation, formulation of a hypothesis, testing, and confirming or falsifying the hypothesis
serendipity
fortunate accident or a lucky surprise
theory
tested and confirmed explanation for observations or phenomena
tissue
group of similar cells carrying out related functions
variable
part of an experiment that the experimenter can vary or change
zoology
study of animals
acid
molecule that donates hydrogen ions and increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution
adhesion
attraction between water molecules and other molecules
aliphatic hydrocarbon
hydrocarbon consisting of a linear chain of carbon atoms
anion
negative ion that is formed by an atom gaining one or more electrons
aromatic hydrocarbon
hydrocarbon consisting of closed rings of carbon atoms
atom
the smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an element
atomic mass
the mass of an atom in amu, equal to the number of protons plus the number of neutrons
average atomic mass
weighted mean of the mass number for an element’s isotopes, based on abundance in nature
atomic number
total number of protons in an atom
balanced chemical equation
statement of a chemical reaction with the number of each type of atom equalized for both the products and reactants
base
molecule that donates hydroxide ions or otherwise binds excess hydrogen ions and decreases the hydrogen ions' concentration in a solution
buffer
substance that resists a change in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen or hydroxide ions
calorie
amount of heat required to change the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius
capillary action
occurs because water molecules are attracted to charges on the inner surfaces of narrow tubular structures such as glass tubes, drawing the water molecules to the tubes' sides
cation
positive ion that is formed by an atom losing one or more electrons
chemical bond
interaction between two or more of the same or different atoms that results in forming molecules
chemical reaction
process leading to rearranging atoms in molecules
chemical reactivity
the ability to combine and to chemically bond with each other
cohesion
intermolecular forces between water molecules caused by the polar nature of water; responsible for surface tension
compound
substance composed of molecules consisting of atoms of at least two different elements
covalent bond
type of strong bond formed between two atoms of the same or different elements; forms when electrons are shared between atoms
dissociation
release of an ion from a molecule such that the original molecule now consists of an ion and the charged remains of the original, such as when water dissociates into H+ and OH
electrolyte
ion necessary for nerve impulse conduction, muscle contractions, and water balance
electron
negatively charged subatomic particle that resides outside of the nucleus in the electron orbital; lacks functional mass and has a negative charge of –1 unit
electron configuration
arrangement of electrons in an atom’s electron shell (for example, 1s2 2s2 2p6)
electron orbital
how electrons are spatially distributed surrounding the nucleus; the area where we are most likely to find an electron
electron transfer
movement of electrons from one element to another; important in creating ionic bonds
electronegativity
ability of some elements to attract electrons (often of hydrogen atoms), acquiring partial negative charges in molecules and creating partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms
element
one of 118 unique substances that cannot break down into smaller substances; each element has unique properties and a specified number of protons
enantiomers
molecules that share overall structure and bonding patterns, but differ in how the atoms are three dimensionally placed such that they are mirror images of each other
equilibrium
steady state of relative reactant and product concentration in reversible chemical reactions in a closed system
evaporation
change from liquid to gaseous state at a body of water's surface, plant leaves, or an organism's skin
functional group
group of atoms that provides or imparts a specific function to a carbon skeleton
geometric isomer
isomer with similar bonding patterns differing in the placement of atoms alongside a double covalent bond
heat of vaporization of water
high amount of energy required for liquid water to turn into water vapor
hydrocarbon
molecule that consists only of carbon and hydrogen
hydrogen bond
weak bond between slightly positively charged hydrogen atoms and slightly negatively charged atoms in other molecules
hydrophilic
describes ions or polar molecules that interact well with other polar molecules such as water
hydrophobic
describes uncharged nonpolar molecules that do not interact well with polar molecules such as water
inert gas
(also, noble gas) element with filled outer electron shell that is unreactive with other atoms
ion
atom or chemical group that does not contain equal numbers of protons and electrons
ionic bond
chemical bond that forms between ions with opposite charges (cations and anions)
irreversible chemical reaction
chemical reaction where reactants proceed unidirectionally to form products
isomers
molecules that differ from one another even though they share the same chemical formula
isotope
one or more forms of an element that have different numbers of neutrons
law of mass action
chemical law stating that the rate of a reaction is proportional to the concentration of the reacting substances
litmus paper
(also, pH paper) filter paper treated with a natural water
mass number
total number of protons and neutrons in an atom