AICE Marine Science Chapter 1 Vocab

kinetic particle theory (Particle Theory)

the theory of how particles (such as atoms and molecules) move in relation to each other and the amount of energy within the system

water vapor

gaseous phase/state of water; produced when liquid water evaporates or boils

proton

positively charged subatomic particle contained within the nucleus of an atom

neutrons

a neutral subatomic particle contained within the nucleus of an atom

electron

a negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom

element

a substance that cannot be chemically broken down into a simpler substance

compound

a substance containing two or more elements chemically bonded together

emergent properties

characteristics that are present within a compound or molecule of two or more different elements that those elements do not possess on their own

density

a measure of the mass of a defined volume of water

precipitation

water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface as rain, sleet, snow or hail

alkaline

having a pH above 7

oxygen minimum layer

the layer within the ocean where the concentration of dissolved oxygen is at its lowest, typically found below the photic zone between 100m and 1000m deep

molecule

a group of atoms bonded together

covalent bond

chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms

specific heat capacity

the heat required to raise the temperature of the unit mass of a given substance by one degree Celsius

run-off

the flow of water from land caused by precipitation

pH scale

a logarithmic scale that measures the ratio of hydrogen ions to hydroxide

water column

a vertical section of water from the surface to the bottom; useful concept when discussing changes in the abiotic factors within the body of water

atom

the smallest particle of an element can be divided into and still be the same substance

ionic bond

chemical bond that involves the attraction between two oppositely charged ions

solute

a solid that dissolves in a solvent

evaporation

a change in state from liquid to gas below the boiling point of a substance

turbulence

irregular changes in the speed and direction offluid movement

gradient

the rate of change in the y-axis value as the x-axis value increases

nucleus

the positively charged central core of an atom that is made of protons and neutrons

hydrogen bond

a weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a hydrogen atom in one molecule and an atom of oxygen, nitrogen or fluorine in the other molecule

solution

a mixture of a solute dissolved in a solvent

hypersaline

when a body of water has a salinity level greater than 40%

thermal insulator

a substance which reduces the rate of transfer of thermal energy

shells

each of a set of orbitals around the nucleus of an atom that can be preoccupied by electrons

ion

an atom or molecule that has lost or gained one or more electrons creating an electrical charge

solubility

the ability of a solute to dissolve within a solvent (such as water)

halocline

a layer of water below the mixed surface layer where a rapid change in salinity can be measured as depth increases

pH

a numeric value expressing the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a logarithmic scale

pycnocline

a layer of water between two layers of water with different densities

atomic number

the number of protons contained in the nucleus of an atom

polar

when opposite sides of a molecule have contrasting (partial) electrical charges

dissolution

the process of being dissolved

thermocline

a layer between two layers of water with different temperatures

dissolved oxygen (DO)

concentration of oxygen dissolved in a solution

principle of constant proportions

the ratio of any two major ions dissolved in seawater is constant

bond

a strong force of attraction holding atoms together in a substance

solvent

a substance which is able to dissolve other substances

salinity

a measure of the quantity of dissolved solids in ocean water, represented by parts per thousand (ppt) or %

acidic

having a pH below 7

phytoplankton

microscopic photosynthetic organisms that live in the upper, sunlit layers of water