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APES Ch. 2 Vocab
Environmental Systems - AP Environmental Science, Chapter 2
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Matter | Anything that occupies space and has mass |
| Mass | A measure of the amount of matter and object contains |
| Atom | The smallest particle that can contain the chemical properties of an element |
| Element | A substance composed of atoms that cannot be broken down into smaller, simpler components |
| Periodic table | A chart of all the chemical elements currently known, organized by their chemical properties |
| Molecules | Particles containing more than one atom |
| Compounds | Molecules containing more than one element |
| Atomic number | The number of protons in the nucleus of a particular element |
| Mass number | A measurement of the total number of protons and neutrons in an element |
| Isotopes | Atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons |
| Radioactive decay | The spontaneous release of material from the nucleus of radioactive isotopes |
| Half-life | The time it takes for one half of an original radioactive parent atom to decay |
| Covalent bond | The bond formed when elements share electrons |
| Ionic bond | A chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions |
| Hydrogen bond | A weak chemical bond that forms when hydrogen atoms that are covalently bonded to one atom are attracted to another atom on another molecule |
| Polar molecule | A molecule in which one side is more positive and the other side is more negative |
| Surface tension | A property of water that results from the cohesion of molecules at the surface of a body of water and creates a "skin" on the water's surface |
| Capillary action | A property of water that occurs when adhesion of water molecules to a surface is stronger than the cohesion between the molecules |
| Acid | A substance that contributes hydrogen ions to a solution |
| Base | A substance that contributes hydroxide ions to a solution |
| pH | The number indicating the strength of acids and bases on a scale from 0 to 14, where 7 is neutral, smaller values are acidic, and larger values are basic |
| Chemical reaction | A reaction that occurs when atoms separate from molecules or recombine with other molecules |
| Law of Conservation of Matter | Matter cannot be created or destroyed |
| Inorganic compounds | A compound that does not contain carbon |
| Organic compound | A compound that contains carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds |
| Carbohydrates | Compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms |
| Proteins | Long chains of nitrogen-containing organic molecules known as amino acids, providing structural support, energy storage, internal transport, and defense against foreign substances |
| Nucleic acids | Organic compounds found in all living cells, forming in long chains to make DNA and RNA |
| DNA | A nucleic acid that contains the genetic material to pass to offspring |
| RNA | A nucleic acid that translates the code stored in DNA and allows for the synthesis of proteins |
| Lipids | Smaller organic molecules that do not mix with water |
| Cell | A highly organized living entity that consists of the four types of macromolecules and other substances in a watery solution, surrounded by membrane |
| Energy | The ability to do work or transfer heat |
| Electromagnetic radiation | A form of energy emitted by the sun that includes (but is not limited to) visible light ultraviolet light, and infrared energy |
| Photons | Massless packets of energy that carry electromagnetic radiation at the speed of light |
| Joule | The amount of energy used when a one-watt electrical device is turned on for one second |
| Power | The rate at which work is done |
| Potential energy | Stored energy that has not been released |
| Kinetic energy | The energy of motion |
| Chemical energy | Potential energy stored in chemical bonds |
| Temperature | The measure of the average kinetic energy of a substance |
| First Law of Thermodynamics | Energy can neither be created nor destroyed |
| Second Law of Thermodynamics | When energy is transformed, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes |
| Energy efficiency | The ratio of the amount of work done to the total amount of energy introduced to the system |
| Energy quality | The ease with which energy can be used for work. Something has high energy quality if it exists in a concentrated form that does not take too much energy to transport (ex: gasoline). |
| Entropy | Randomness in a system |
| Open system | A system in which exchanges of matter occur across system boundaries |
| Closed system | A system in which exchanges of matter do not occur across system boundaries |
| Inputs | Additions to a system |
| Outputs | Losses from a system |
| Systems analysis | An analysis to determine inputs, outputs, and changes in a system under various conditions |
| Steady state | A state in which inputs equal outputs, so that the system is not changing over time |
| Feedback | An adjustment in input or output rates caused by changes to a system |
| Negative feedback loops | Feedback loops in which a system responds to a change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which change is occuring |
| Positive feedback loops | A feedback loop in which a change is amplified |
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