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Chapter 3
Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Matter | any material that has mass and occupies space is called matter. |
| 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. |
| hydrocarbons | an organic compound combining hydrogen and carbon |
| solution | a mixture in which all the ingredients are evenly distributed |
| macromolecules | a large organic molecule; includes proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids |
| Proteins | an organic compound made up of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur. |
| Nucleic acids | the macromolecule that carries hereditary information; includes DNA and RNA |
| carbohydrate | an organic compound that consists of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen |
| Lipids | chemically diverse compound that does not dissolve in water |
| 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 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 |
| atmosphere | the thin layer of gases that surrounds Earth |
| hydrosphere | all of the water- salt water and fresh water, in the form of liquid, ice, or vapor- above and in the atmosphere |