Science Vocab
Review of the science vocabulary words for the Mid-term
Terms
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- representative element
- elements in group 1 and 2 and 13-18 in the periodic table that include metals, metalloids, and nonmetals
- boiling
- liquid changes to gas by forming bubbles in the liquid that rise to the surface
- semiconductor
- element that does not conduct electricity as well as a metal but conducts it better than a nonmetal
- physical science
- study of matter, which is anything that takes up space and has mass, and the study of energy, which is the ability to cause change
- force
- a push or a pull that one object exerts on another
- temperature
- a measure of the average value of the kinetic evergy of the particles in a material
- freezing
- change of matter from a liquid state to a solid state
- catalyst
- substance that can make something happen faster but is not changed itself
- earth science
- the study of Earth's systems and nonliving things
- atomic number
- the number of protons in the nucleus of a given element
- transition element
- elements in groups 3-12 in the periodic table, all of which are metals
- data
- information gathered during an investigation
- melting
- change of matter from a solid state to a liquid state
- infer
- to draw a conclusion based on observation
- viscosity
- a liquid's resistance to flow
- noble gas
- elements in group 18 of the periodic table
- polar bond
- bond resulting from the unequal sharing of electrons
- period
- horizontal row of elements in the periodic table whose properties change gradually and predictably
- vaporization
- the change from a liquid to a gas
- metal
- element that has luster, is malleable, ductile, and a good conductor of heat and electricity
- Archimedes' principle
- states that the bouyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object
- energy
- the ability to do work or cause change
- density
- mass of an object divided by its volume
- life science
- study of living systems and how they interact
- ion
- atom that is no longer neutral because it has gained or lost an electron
- metalloid
- element that shares some properties with both metals and nonmetals
- science
- systematic way of learning more about the natural world that provides possible explanations to questions and involves using a collection of skills
- ionic bond
- attraction that holds oppositely charged ions close together
- hypothesis
- a reasonable guess that can be tested and is based on what is observed
- scientific law
- a rule that describes a pattern in nature
- variable
- factor that can be changed in an experiment
- evaporization
- change of matter from a liquid to a gas state starting with the top layer of water
- gas
- matter that does not have a definate shape or volume; has particles that move at high speeds in all directions
- lanthanide
- the first series of inner transition elements which goes from cerium to lutetium
- alkali metal
- elements in group 1 of the periodic table
- critical thinking
- involves using knowledge and thinking skills to evaluate evidence and explanations
- constant
- variable that is not changed in an experiment
- bouyant force
- upward force exerted on an object immersed in a fluid
- nonmetal
- element that is usually a gas or brittle solid at room temperature and is a poor conductor of heat and electricity
- chemical formula
- combination of chemical symbols and numbers that indicates which elements and how many atoms of each element are present in a molecule
- element
- a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances
- halogen
- elements in group 17 of the periodic table
- surface tension
- the uneven forces acting on the particles on the surface of a liquid
- chemical bond
- force that holds two atoms together
- covalent bond
- chemical bond formed when atoms share electrons
- pressure
- force exerted on a surface divided by the total area over which the force is exerted
- metallic bond
- bond formed when metal atoms share their pooled electrons
- dependent variable
- factor that may change as a result of changes to the independent variable
- liquid
- matter with a definite volume but no definite shape that can flow from one place to another
- molecule
- neutral particle formed when atoms share electrons
- controlled experiment
- involves changing one factor and observing its effect on one thing while keeping all other things constant
- alkaline earth metal
- elements in Group 2 of the periodic table
- theory
- explanation of things or events from many observations
- actinide
- the second series of intertranistion elements which goes from thorium to lawrencium
- group
- family of elements in the perioidic table that have similiar physical or chemical properties
- scientific theory
- a possible explanation for repeatedly observed patterns in nature supported by observations and results from many investigations
- heat
- movement of thermal energy from a substance at a higher tempurature to a substance at a lower temperature
- mass number
- the sum of neutrons and protrons in the nucleus of an atom
- compound
- pure substance that contains two or more elements
- observation
- a record or description of an occurence or pattern in nature
- prediction
- an educated guess as to what is going to happen based on observation
- technology
- use of science to help people in some way
- thermal energy
- the sum of the kinetic and potential energy of the particles in a material
- energy level
- the different areas for an electron in an atom
- chemical change
- change in which the identity of a substance changes and forms a new substance or substances
- system
- a set of objects or parts that form a whole
- condensation
- change of matter from a gas to a liquid state
- independent variable
- factor that is intentionally varied by the experimenter
- electron dot diagram
- chemical symbol for an element, surrounded by as many dots as there are electrons in its outer energy level
- atom
- a small particle that makes up most types of matter
- Pascal's Principle
- states that when a force is applied to a confined fluid, an increase in pressure is transmitted equally to all parts of the fluid.
- solid
- matter with a definite shape and volume
- matter
- anything that takes up space and has mass
- electron cloud
- area where negatively charged electrons, arranged in energy levels, travel around an atom's nucleas