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KING Env S Ch 3 Voc
Chap 3 Vocab Earths Environmental Systems kingazcp
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| matter | any material that has mass and occupies space |
| atom | the basic unit of matter; the smallest unit that maintains the chemical properties of an element |
| element | a chemical substance with a unique set of properties that cannot be broken down into substances with other properties |
| nucleus | the central core of an atom; consists of protons and neutrons |
| molecule | a combination of two or more atoms |
| compound | a substance combining atoms of two or more different elements |
| hydrocarbon | an organic compound combining hydrogen and carbon |
| solution | a mixture in which all the ingredients are evenly distributed |
| macromolecule | a large organic molecule; includes proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids |
| protein | an organic compound made up of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur |
| nucleic acid | the macromolecule that carries hereditary information; includes DNA and RNA |
| carbohydrate or lipid | an organic compound that consists of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen |
| pH | power of Hydrogen |
| pH | a measure of the acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of a solution |
| feedback loop | a circular process that describes how an event is both a cause and an effect in the same system; can be a positive feedback loop or a negative feedback loop |
| erosion | the removal of soil by water, wind, ice, or gravity |
| geosphere | all of the rock at and below Earth’s surface |
| lithosphere | sphere of Earth made up of the hard rock on and just below Earth’s surface; the outermost layer of both Earth and its geosphere |
| biosphere | the Earth and all of its organisms and environments |
| hydrosphere | all of the water—salt water and fresh water, in the form of liquid, ice, or vapor—above and below Earth’s surface and in the atmosphere |
| crust | the thin layer of rock that forms Earth’s outer surface on land and in the ocean |
| mantle | the layer of very hot but mostly solid rock beneath Earth’s crust |
| core | the layer of Earth below the mantle |
| tectonic plate | one of the rigid layers of the lithosphere |
| landform | a mountain, island, or continent formed by the collisions and separations of tectonic plates |
| deposition | the movement and accumulation of eroded soil |
| evaporation | a change in state from a liquid to a gas |
| transpiration | the release of water vapor by plants through their leaves |
| precipitation | the return of water from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail 81; the process of separating a solid substance (precipitate) from a solution |
| condensation | a change in state from a vapor to a liquid |
| aquifer | a sponge-like formation of rock, sand, or gravel that holds water |
| groundwater | fresh water found below Earth’s surface |
| Law of Conservation of Matter | the principle that states that matter can change form but cannot be created or destroyed |
| Nutrient | matter that organisms need to carry out their life processes |
| Biochemical cycle | the circulation of nutrients through the atmosphere; also called nutrient cycle |
| Primary producer | an organism that can capture energy from the sun or from chemicals and store it; also called autotroph |
| photosynthesis | the process by which primary producers use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars, releasing oxygen |
| consumer | an organism that relies on other organisms for energy and nutrients; also called heterotroph |
| decomposer | an organism (e.g., a fungus or bacterium) that breaks down nonliving matter into simple parts that can then be taken up and reused by primary producers |
| cellular respiration | the process by which organisms use oxygen to release the chemical energy of sugars, producing carbon dioxide and water |
| eutrophication | the introduction of phosphorus and nitrogen into a body of water that leads to an overgrowth of algae and other producers |
| nitrogen fixation | the conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia |
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kingazcp
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