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Chapter 3 Lesson 1-2
Vocabulary
| 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 center 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. |
| 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. |
| pH | a measure of the acidity or alkalinity (bascity) 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 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 below Earth's surface and in the atmosphere. |