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APES Vocab
Environmental Systems
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| acid | a substance that contributes hydrogen ions to a solution |
| atom | the smallest particle that can contain the chemical properties of an element |
| atomic number | the number of protons in the nucleus of a particular element |
| base | a substance that contributes hydroxide ions to a solution |
| capillary action | a property of water that occurs when adhesion of water molecules to a surface is stronger than cohesion between the molecules |
| carbohydrate | a compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms |
| cell | a highly organized living entity that consists of the four types of macromolecules and other substances in a watery solution, surrounded by a membrane |
| chemical energy | potential energy stored in chemical bonds |
| chemical reaction | a reaction that occurs when atoms separate from molecules or recombine with other molecules |
| closed system | a system in which matter and energy exchanges do not occur across boundaries |
| compound | a molecule containing more than one element |
| covalent bond | the bond formed when elements share electrons |
| DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) | a nucleic acid, the genetic material that contains the code for reproducing the components of the next generation, and which organisms pass on to their offspring |
| electromagnetic radiation | a form of energy emitted by the Sun that includes, but is not limited to, visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared energy |
| element | a substance composed of atoms that cannot be broken down into smaller, simpler components |
| energy | the ability to do work or transfer heat |
| energy efficiency | the ratio of the amount of energy expended in the form you want to the total amount of energy that is introduced into the system |
| energy quality | the ease with which an energy source can be used for work |
| entropy | randomness in a system |
| first law of thermodynamics | a physical law which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can change from one form to another |
| half-life | the time it takes for one-half of an original radioactive parent atom to decay |
| 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 |
| inorganic compound | a compound that does not contain the element carbon or contains carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen |
| input | an addition to a system |
| ionic bond | a chemical bond between two ions of opposite charges |
| isotopes | atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons |
| joule | the amount of energy used when a 1-watt electrical device is turned on for 1 second |
| kinetic energy | the energy of motion |
| law of conservation of matter | a law of nature stating that matter cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change form |
| lipid | a smaller organic biological molecule that does not mix with water |
| mass | a measurement of the amount of matter an object contains |
| mass number | a measurement of the total number of protons and neutrons in an element |
| matter | anything that occupies space and has mass |
| molecule | a particle that contains more than one atom |
| negative feedback loop | a feedback loop in which a system responds to a change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring |
| nucleic acid | organic compounds found in all living cells |
| open system | a system in which exchanges of matter or energy occur across system boundaries |
| organic compound | a compound that contains carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds |
| output | a loss from a system |
| periodic table | a chart of all chemical elements currently known, organized by their properties |
| pH | a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution |
| photon | a massless packet of energy that carries electromagnetic radiation at the speed of light |
| polar molecule | a molecule in which one side is more positive and the other side is more negative |
| positive feedback loop | a feedback loop in which change in a system is amplified |
| potential energy | stored energy that has not been released |
| power | the rate at which work is done |
| protein | a critical component of living organisms made up of a long chain of nitrogen-containing organic molecules known as amino acids |
| radioactive decay | the spontaneous release of material from the nucleus of radioactive isotopes |
| RNA (ribonucleic acid) | a nucleic acid that translates the code stored in DNA, which makes possible the synthesis of proteins |
| second law of thermodynamics | the physical law stating that when energy is transformed, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes |
| steady state | a state in which inputs equal outputs, so that the system is not changing over time |
| surface tension | a property of water that results from the cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water and that creates a sort of skin on the water’s surface |
| systems analysis | an analysis to determine inputs, outputs, and changes in a system under various conditions |
| temperature | the measure of the average kinetic energy of a substance |
Created by:
mmcgra1236
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