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Big Idea 18
Matter and Energy Transformations
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Cellular Respiration | The process by which cells break down glucose and oxygen to release energy (ATP), water, and carbon dioxide. FSSA Tip: Happens in the mitochondria and occurs in both plants and animals. |
| Photosynthesis | The process by which plants (producers) use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create glucose (sugar) and oxygen. FSSA Tip: This happens in the chloroplast and stores energy. |
| Product | The substance(s) formed as a result of a chemical reaction (on the RIGHT side of the arrow in a chemical equation) |
| Reactant | The starting substance(s) in a chemical reaction (on the LEFT side of the arrow in a chemical equation) |
| Glucose | A simple sugar (C6H12O6) that is the primary source of energy for cells |
| Transpiration | The process where plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves (often called "plant sweat") |
| Chlorophyll | The green pigment in chloroplasts that absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis |
| ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) | The specific molecule that cells use as "fuel" or usable energy |
| Cycling of Matter | The process where matter (such as carbon) is continuously reused and recycled through an ecosystem. Because of the Law of Conservation of Mass, atoms are never destroyed; they simply change form as they move between living things and the environment. |
| Flow of Energy | The one-way path that energy takes through an ecosystem, beginning with the sun and moving up through producers and consumers. Unlike matter, energy CANNOT be recycled; it must be constantly supplied by the sun. |
| Thermal Energy (Heat Loss) | The form of energy that is released into the environment as organisms live, grow, and move. This explains why energy "disappears" as it moves up an energy pyramid—it isn't destroyed, but it is lost to the atmosphere as unusable heat. |
| Law of Conservation of Energy | Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another (e.g., light energy to chemical energy) |
| Law of Conservation of Matter | Matter cannot be created or destroyed. In a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants (what goes in) must equal the total mass of the products (what comes out). |
| Decomposition | The process of rotting or decaying; this is how matter is recycled back into the soil |
| Carbon Cycle | The continuous movement of carbon through the environment. It involves photosynthesis (removing CO2), respiration (adding CO2), and combustion (burning fossil fuels). |
| Fossil Fuels | Natural fuels (like coal, oil, and gas) formed from the remains of ancient organisms; burning them releases stored carbon into the atmosphere |
| Combustion | The process of burning something (like fossil fuels), which releases Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere |
| Water Cycle (Hydrologic Cycle) | The continuous movement of water above, on, and below the Earth's surface through processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and transpiration. |
| Nitrogen Cycle | The process where nitrogen moves between the air, soil, and living things, often requiring "nitrogen-fixing" bacteria in the soil to make it usable for plants |
| Energy Transformation | When energy changes from one form into another (e.g., light energy from the sun becomes chemical energy in a plant) |
Created by:
Ms. Wilhjelm
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