Studied by 2 people
Biology
the scientific study of life
Theory
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment
quantitative data
numerical observations
The scientific process is flexible
the nature of the process, changes and adjustments, and always growing the world of knowledge
controlled experiments
all groups are treated the same, except for independent variables
independent variable
what you manipulate/change
dependent variable
what you observe or measure
matter
anything that has mass and takes up a volume of space
mass
measurement of the amount of matter in an object
weight
gravitational force acting on an object
chemistry
study of matter and changes it undergoes
element
substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by chemical reactions (H2)
atom
smallest unit of matter
compounds
two or more different atoms bonded together
protons
positive charge, determine the atoms identity
atomic number
number or protons in an atoms nucleus
isotopes
different atomic forms of the same element
atomic mass
average mass of a given atom (usually, protons + neutrons)
electrons
negative charge (octet rule)
covalent bonds
sharing electrons
nonpolar covalent bond
electrons shared equally
polar covalent bond
electrons not shared equally (positive or negative charges)
ions
electrically charged atoms from losing or gaining electrons
hydrogen bonds
weak association with particularly positive charged H atoms and partially negatively charged H atoms of another nearby molecule
importance of chemistry
molecular shape determines function, chemical reactions are constant part of biological function, chemical equilibrium is a critical characteristic of biological reactions
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
4 most common elements that make up 96% of life
cohesive behavior, ability to moderate temperature, expansion upon freezing, versatility of a solvent
important properties of water
solution
homogenous liquid of 2 or more substances
solvent
dissolving agent
solute
substance dissolved
hydrophilic
“water-loving”, dissolves in water
hydrophobic
“water-fearing” does not dissolve in water
acids
pH less than 7 (donate protons, increase in H+)
bases
pH more than 7 (accept/take protons, reducing H+)
buffer
substance that minimizes changes in H+ and/or OH- in a solution
molecules
simplest form of two or more atoms bonded together
negative control
does not receive treatment, other variables/errors had no effect (placebo)
positive control
receives treatment with known results, if something has gone wrong with the experiment itself
control group
untreated group
make observations, suggest a hypothesis, generate predictions, design tests, analyze results, communicate results, accept/reject/or modify
order or scientific method
qualitative data
descriptive observations
Hypothesis
informed, logical, and plausible explanation for observations of the natural world
good hypothesis
testable and falsifiable
Science
a “way of knowing” and is one’s approach to understanding the natural world
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Flashcard (35)