Key Terms
- Page ID
- 415145
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| Words (or words that have the same definition) | The definition is case sensitive | (Optional) Image to display with the definition [Not displayed in Glossary, only in pop-up on pages] | (Optional) Caption for Image | (Optional) External or Internal Link | (Optional) Source for Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Eg. "Genetic, Hereditary, DNA ...") | (Eg. "Relating to genes or heredity") |  | The infamous double helix | https://bio.libretexts.org/ | CC-BY-SA; Delmar Larsen |
| Word(s) | Definition | Image | Caption | Link | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| accuracy | how closely a measurement aligns with a correct value | ||||
| atom | smallest particle of an element that can enter into a chemical combination | ||||
| Celsius (°C) | unit of temperature; water freezes at 0 °C and boils at 100 °C on this scale | ||||
| chemical change | change producing a different kind of matter from the original kind of matter | ||||
| chemical property | behavior that is related to the change of one kind of matter into another kind of matter | ||||
| chemistry | study of the composition, properties, and interactions of matter | ||||
| compound | pure substance that can be decomposed into two or more elements | ||||
| cubic centimeter (cm3 or cc) | volume of a cube with an edge length of exactly 1 cm | ||||
| cubic meter (m3) | SI unit of volume | ||||
| density | ratio of mass to volume for a substance or object | ||||
| dimensional analysis | (also, factor-label method) versatile mathematical approach that can be applied to computations ranging from simple unit conversions to more complex, multi-step calculations involving several different quantities | ||||
| element | substance that is composed of a single type of atom; a substance that cannot be decomposed by a chemical change | ||||
| exact number | number derived by counting or by definition | ||||
| extensive property | property of a substance that depends on the amount of the substance | ||||
| Fahrenheit | unit of temperature; water freezes at 32 °F and boils at 212 °F on this scale | ||||
| gas | state in which matter has neither definite volume nor shape | ||||
| heterogeneous mixture | combination of substances with a composition that varies from point to point | ||||
| homogeneous mixture | (also, solution) combination of substances with a composition that is uniform throughout | ||||
| hypothesis | tentative explanation of observations that acts as a guide for gathering and checking information | ||||
| intensive property | property of a substance that is independent of the amount of the substance | ||||
| kelvin (K) | SI unit of temperature; 273.15 K = 0 ºC | ||||
| kilogram (kg) | standard SI unit of mass; 1 kg = approximately 2.2 pounds | ||||
| law | statement that summarizes a vast number of experimental observations, and describes or predicts some aspect of the natural world | ||||
| law of conservation of matter | when matter converts from one type to another or changes form, there is no detectable change in the total amount of matter present | ||||
| length | measure of one dimension of an object | ||||
| liquid | state of matter that has a definite volume but indefinite shape | ||||
| liter (L) | (also, cubic decimeter) unit of volume; 1 L = 1,000 cm3 | ||||
| macroscopic domain | realm of everyday things that are large enough to sense directly by human sight and touch | ||||
| mass | fundamental property indicating amount of matter | ||||
| matter | anything that occupies space and has mass | ||||
| meter (m) | standard metric and SI unit of length; 1 m = approximately 1.094 yards | ||||
| microscopic domain | realm of things that are much too small to be sensed directly | ||||
| milliliter (mL) | 1/1,000 of a liter; equal to 1 cm3 | ||||
| mixture | matter that can be separated into its components by physical means | ||||
| molecule | bonded collection of two or more atoms of the same or different elements | ||||
| physical change | change in the state or properties of matter that does not involve a change in its chemical composition | ||||
| physical property | characteristic of matter that is not associated with any change in its chemical composition | ||||
| plasma | gaseous state of matter containing a large number of electrically charged atoms and/or molecules | ||||
| precision | how closely a measurement matches the same measurement when repeated | ||||
| pure substance | homogeneous substance that has a constant composition | ||||
| rounding | procedure used to ensure that calculated results properly reflect the uncertainty in the measurements used in the calculation | ||||
| scientific method | path of discovery that leads from question and observation to law or hypothesis to theory, combined with experimental verification of the hypothesis and any necessary modification of the theory | ||||
| second (s) | SI unit of time | ||||
| SI units (International System of Units) | standards fixed by international agreement in the International System of Units (Le Système International d’Unités) | ||||
| significant figures | (also, significant digits) all of the measured digits in a determination, including the uncertain last digit | ||||
| solid | state of matter that is rigid, has a definite shape, and has a fairly constant volume | ||||
| symbolic domain | specialized language used to represent components of the macroscopic and microscopic domains, such as chemical symbols, chemical formulas, chemical equations, graphs, drawings, and calculations | ||||
| temperature | intensive property representing the hotness or coldness of matter | ||||
| theory | well-substantiated, comprehensive, testable explanation of a particular aspect of nature | ||||
| uncertainty | estimate of amount by which measurement differs from true value | ||||
| unit | standard of comparison for measurements | ||||
| unit conversion factor | ratio of equivalent quantities expressed with different units; used to convert from one unit to a different unit | ||||
| volume | amount of space occupied by an object | ||||
| weight | force that gravity exerts on an object |