Quarter 1 SOL Minor: Science

Biology

The study of life.

Matter

Anything that takes up space (volume) and has mass.

Atoms

The basic building blocks of matter.

Protons

Positively charged particles located in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutrons

Neutral particles located in the nucleus of an atom.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in a cloud, taking up most of the atom's volume.

Nucleus

The center of an atom, containing protons and neutrons.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom, which defines the element.

Mass Number

The sum of protons and neutrons in an atom.

Neutral Atom

An atom where the number of electrons equals the number of protons.

Bohr Models

Models that represent atoms with a central nucleus and electrons in energy levels/shells.

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outermost energy level that determine an element's chemical properties.

Elements

Pure substances consisting of atoms that have the same atomic number.

Ions

Charged atoms.

Cation

A positively charged ion that has lost electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion that has gained electrons.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with different mass numbers due to different numbers of neutrons.

Atomic Mass

The weighted average of the masses of an element's isotopes.

Radioactive Isotopes

Isotopes with unstable nuclei that break down at a constant rate, emitting radiation.

Periodic Table

An organization of chemical elements based on their properties.

Law of Periodicity

The properties of elements are a periodic function of their atomic number.

Groups

Vertical columns in the periodic table indicating the number of valence electrons.

Periods

Horizontal rows in the periodic table indicating the number of occupied energy levels.

Covalent Bonds

Bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Ionic Bonds

Bonds formed when electrons are transferred between atoms.

Van der Waals Forces

Weak attractions between oppositely charged regions of nearby molecules.

Hydrogen Bonds

Weak bonds formed between a partially positively charged hydrogen atom and a partially negatively charged atom.

Water (H₂O)

The most abundant compound on Earth, crucial for life.

Polarity

The property of having unevenly distributed charges across a molecule.

Cohesion

The tendency of water molecules to stick to each other, resulting in surface tension.

Adhesion

The tendency of water molecules to stick to other polar substances.

Capillary Action

The ability of water to rise in narrow tubes against gravity.

Acid

A substance that forms H+ ions in solution.

Base

A substance that forms OH- ions in solution.

pH Scale

A measure of the concentration of H+ ions in a solution ranging from 1 to 14.

Buffers

Weak acids or bases that help maintain stable pH levels.

Organic Molecules

Molecules that contain carbon and are essential for life.

Macromolecules

Large organic molecules made from smaller units called monomers.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds composed of sugar molecules, serving as a primary source of energy.

Lipids

Organic molecules that are primarily used for long-term energy storage.

Nucleic Acids

Biological macromolecules that store and transmit genetic information.

Proteins

Macromolecules made of amino acids that perform a variety of functions in organisms.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that increase the rate of chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.

Reactants

Starting materials in a chemical reaction.

Products

Substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Exergonic Reaction

A reaction that releases energy, where products have less energy than reactants.

Endergonic Reaction

A reaction that absorbs energy, where products have more energy than reactants.