APES Ch.2

acidity

a chemical characteristic that helps determine how a substance dissolved in water will interact with and affect its environment

atomic number

the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

atom

Basic unit of matter

atomic theory

a theory that states that all matter is composed of tiny particles called atoms.

cells

Basic unit of life

chemical change

A change that occurs when one or more substances change into entirely new substances with different properties.

chemical element

pure substance that consists entirely of one type of atom

chemical formula

A combination of chemical symbols and numbers to represent a substance

chemical reaction

the process by which one or more substances change to produce one or more different substances

chromosome

a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.

compounds

2 or more elements chemically combined

data

Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis

electromagnetic radiation

The energy transferred through space by electromagnetic waves.

electrons

Negatively charged particles

energy quality

the ease with which an energy source can be used for work

Feedback (Climate Change)

process in which changing one quantity changes a second quantity, and the change in the second quantity in turn changes the first

feedback loop

Occurs when an output of matter, energy, or information is fed back into the system as an input and leads to changes in that system.

first law of thermodynamics

Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

flows

processes that move matter between pools

fossil fuels

Coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals.

frontier science

Preliminary scientific data, hypotheses, and models that have not been widely tested and accepted

genes

DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission.

heat

The energy transferred between objects that are at different temperatures

high-quality energy

organized & concentrated; can perform useful work (fossil fuel & nuclear)

high-quality matter

Matter that is concentrated and contains a high concentration of a useful resource

inorganic compounds

A compound that does not contain the element carbon or contains carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen.

inputs

the resources—such as labor, money, materials, and energy—that are converted into outputs

ion

A charged atom

isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons

kinetic energy

energy of motion

law of conservation of energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed

law of conversation of matter

the law that states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in ordinary chemical and physical changes

low-quality energy

disorganized, dispersed (heat in ocean or air wind, solar)

low-quality matter

Matter that is dilute or dispersed or contains a low concentration of a useful resource

mass number

the sum of the number of neutrons and protons in an atomic nucleus

negative feedback loop

A feedback loop that causes a system to change in the opposite direction from which it is moving

neutrons

the particles of the nucleus that have no charge

nuclear charge

the total charge of all the protons in the nucleus

peer review

evaluation of scientific, academic, or professional work by others working in the same field.

pH

hydrogen ion concentration

physical change

A change in a substance that does not involve a change in the identity of the substance

positive feedback loop

Causes a system to change further in the same direction.

potential energy

stored energy

scientific law

A statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under a particular set of conditions

scientific theory

a well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations

second law of thermodynamics

Every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy of the universe.

synergistic interaction

Interaction of two or more factors or processes so that the combined effect is greater than the sum of their separate effects

synergy

the power that results from the combination of two or more forces

throughputs

Rate of flow of matter, energy, or information through a system.