Chapters 1-3 Vocab

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