Matter, Energy, and Life (Chapter 3)

Anything that takes up space and has mass.

Matter exists in four states: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

A state of matter where electrons are released and particles become ionized.

Matter is neither created nor destroyed, it is recycled.

Matter is constantly transformed and moves through ecosystems.

The same type of atom throughout.

All matter in a system links to each other.

The minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

A molecule with an uneven distribution of charge, having slightly positive and negative ends.

The attraction between molecules of the same substance.

The tendency of a liquid surface to resist an external force, due to cohesive forces.

The movement of liquid within narrow spaces against the force of gravity.

A negatively charged ion.

A positively charged ion.

A substance that releases hydrogen ions (H+) in water.

A substance that readily bonds with hydrogen ions (H+).

A scale used to measure the acidity or basicity of a solution.

A substance that resists changes in pH.

The continuous movement of water within the Earth's system.

A compound containing carbon and other elements, typically found in living organisms.

Compounds containing carbon atoms that form the structure of biomolecules and living organisms.

Large molecules found in living organisms, including lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Organic compounds, including fats and oils, that store energy, form cell membranes, and do not dissolve in water.

Compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms, forming chains or rings.

Organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, primarily used for energy storage and cell structure.

Chains of amino acids that provide cell structure, carry out many functions, and often act as enzymes.

Proteins that speed up chemical reactions in cells by acting as catalysts.

Molecules with a sugar, phosphate, and a base, forming DNA and RNA, carrying out information or energy.

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a long chain of nucleotides that stores and transmits genetic information, in a double helix.

Energy of motion.

Stored energy.

Potential energy stored in chemical bonds of molecules.

A thin, dynamic structure surrounding a cell, controlling the flow of materials in and out.

The sum of all chemical reactions in an organism.

Certain species oxidize methane using sulfur to create hydrogen sulfide, which is used by bacteria as a food source.

A 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico where methane-metabolizing bacteria consumed much of the escaped methane.

The sun's energy comes from the fusion of hydrogen atoms.

The process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert radiant energy into chemical energy in organic molecules.

A green pigment in chloroplasts that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.

The first stage of photosynthesis, using sunlight to split water, release oxygen, and produce ATP and NADPH.

The second stage of photosynthesis, using ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions to create sugars from carbon dioxide.

The process that releases energy by breaking down glucose in the presence of oxygen.

A simple sugar (C6H12O6) that serves as the primary fuel for most cells' metabolic processes.

During a phase change (like evaporation), added energy is used to change the phase, not to raise the sensed temperature.

An object can have high heat content but low temperature (like a large lake) or high temperature but low heat content (like a small flame).

Oceans and lakes store large amounts of heat, moderating global climates and supporting life.

Evaporation absorbs heat from the environment, while condensation releases heat into the environment. This process is critical for global heat distribution.

Energy that is diffuse, dispersed, and low in temperature; difficult to gather and use for productive purposes.

Energy that is intense, concentrated, and high in temperature; highly useful for carrying out work.

Energy flows in a one-way path through ecosystems, from the sun to organisms, and eventually dissipating as heat.

Energy is conserved; it cannot be created or destroyed under normal conditions, only transformed.

With each energy transfer or transformation, less energy is available to do work. Energy degrades to lower-quality forms or is lost.

A measure of disorder or randomness in a system. In all natural processes, total entropy tends to increase.

The process by which certain bacteria obtain energy for synthesizing organic molecules from chemical bonds in inorganic molecules (like hydrogen sulfide).

All ecosystems require a constant influx of energy (mostly from the sun) to maintain their function and structure.

The rate at which plants accumulate biomass (growth) through photosynthesis, minus the amount lost through respiration.

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Organisms that are similar enough to breed in nature and produce live, fertile offspring.

All the members of a particular species living in a specific area at the same time.

All different populations of organisms living and interacting in a particular area.

The process by which plants use sunlight to produce food (sugars) from carbon dioxide and water, releasing oxygen as a byproduct.

The process by which organisms break down food molecules to release energy, using oxygen and producing carbon dioxide.

Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as climate, water, minerals, and sunlight.

All living organisms and their products (secretions wastes, remains) plus the effects/influence of living things.

A complex, interdependent community of bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and other organisms living on and in the body.

An ecosystem that exchanges energy, matter, and sometimes organisms with its surroundings.

An ecosystem that has minimal exchange of matter, energy, or organisms with its surroundings.

A pyramid that illustrates the total amount of living material (biomass) at each trophic level of an ecosystem.

A biomass pyramid where a higher trophic level has less biomass than a lower trophic level due to periodic fluctuations in producer populations.

A pyramid showing the total number of organisms at each trophic level.

A numbers pyramid where more organisms at one level are supported by a smaller number of organisms from a higher trophic level

The continuous movement of water within the Earth's system involving evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Most water is stored in the oceans, and solar energy drives evaporation.

Water returned to land from the atmosphere via rain, snow, or fog, supporting terrestrial ecosystems.

The process by which carbon atoms move through the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms.

The process by which plants and other organisms use sunlight to synthesize food from carbon dioxide and water.

The process by which cells break down carbohydrates and release energy in the form of ATP.

Coal and oil, compressed remains of ancient organisms, that store immense amounts of carbon.

Large deposits of limestone, formed by calcium carbonate in ancient oceans, contain significant quantities of carbon.

The continuous movement of phosphorus through the environment, from rocks and minerals, through the food web, to water bodies, and back to sediments.

Explosive growth of algae and photosynthetic bacteria in aquatic ecosystems due to excess phosphorus.

Phosphorus is essential for plant growth and thus important for agriculture.

The available amount of phosphorus for use, with varying estimates for how long they'll last.

Deposits of phosphorus that accumulate in the ocean and can later be uplifted and reused by organisms on land.

Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat radiated from Earth's surface, causing global warming.

Processes or locations that absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Processes that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

A shortage of nitrogen that can significantly lower growth in ecosystems.

Excessive nutrient levels (especially nitrogen) in water bodies leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.

The process of converting atmospheric nitrogen gas into a usable form for plants.

The continuous process of nitrogen moving through the environment (atmosphere, soil, and water) and living organisms.

The process where bacteria convert nitrate back into nitrogen gas, releasing it back into the atmosphere.

The continuous movement of phosphorus through the environment (soil, water, organisms).

Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for plant growth, and its availability often impacts overall productivity within ecosystems.

Discarded disposable items don't truly disappear; they are moved elsewhere, remaining in the environment for a time before potentially changing form or moving again.

Basic substances that cannot be broken down into simpler forms by ordinary chemical reactions.

More than 96% of the mass of most living organisms is made up of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

The smallest particles that retain the characteristics of an element.

Atoms consist of a positively charged nucleus (containing protons and neutrons) surrounded by negatively charged electrons that orbit rapidly.

The number of protons in an atom's nucleus, unique for each element.

The sum of the protons and neutrons in an atom.

Forms of an element with different numbers of neutrons, hence differing atomic masses.

Unstable isotopes that emit energy or particles.

Substances made up of different kinds of atoms.

A pair or group of atoms that exist as a single unit.

Electrical attraction between ions with opposite charges.

Bonds formed by atoms sharing electrons.

An atom losing one or more electrons.

An atom gaining one or more electrons.

Processes in which bonds are broken and formed, resulting in the transformation of substances.

A process where an ecosystem maintains stability by responding to changes, keeping forest conditions forest-like.

The idea that ecosystems or all life on Earth act like a single organism, resisting change and maintaining stable conditions.

Organisms (mainly plants and algae) that perform photosynthesis (or chemosynthesis) to make their own food.

The rate at which biomass (living matter) is produced by photosynthesis in a given area over a given time.

The rate at which biomass is made by organisms consuming plants.

A series of organisms where each feeds on the one before it.

A complex network connecting multiple food chains.

An organism's position in a food chain, based on its feeding habits.

Organisms that eat producers (plants).

Organisms that eat primary consumers.

Organisms that eat secondary consumers.

Organism that only eats plants.

Organism that only eats other animals.

Organism that eats both plants and animals.

Animal that consumes dead animals.

Organism that consumes detritus (dead organic matter).

Organism that breaks down and recycles dead organic materials.

A pyramid illustrating energy flow at each trophic level, where energy decreases up.

Energy is used and transformed, but some degrades as heat with each transfer.

The total weight of living organic matter in a given area.