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Environmental Studies, The Blue Planet, Chapter 3
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Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 2
10/29/2012

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Term
Abiotic
Definition
A non-living, non-biological compound.
Term
Aerosol
Definition
A colloid that consists of micro-particles suspended in a gas.
Term
Aqueous
Definition
A water-based liquid.
Term
Asthenosphere
Definition
Within the upper mantle, means weak sphere with a balance between temp and pressure such that rocks have little strength
Term
Atom
Definition
Smallest individual particle that retains the distinctive properties of an element.
Term
Biopolymer
Definition
A polymer that consists of organic compounds.
Term
Biotic
Definition
A living or once-living biological compound.
Term
Bond
Definition
It's a bond. Duh. Ionic or covalent.
Term
Carbohydrate
Definition
Chemical compounds that are a basis of food. A type of biopolymer.
Term
Chemical Element
Definition
Te most fundamental substances into which matter can be separated by chemical means.
Term
Chemical Sediment
Definition
Dissolved material that is transported in the form of a chemical solution.
Term
Sediment
Definition
The unconsolidated loose rock and minerals that constitute the regolith.
Term
Clastic Sediment
Definition
Bits of broken rock and minerals moved as solid particles.
Term
Colloid
Definition
Extremely fine particles dispersed in a continuous medium, usually a liquid. Like a gel.
Term
Compound
Definition
Formed when one or more kinds of anion combine chemically with one or more kinds of cation in a specific ratio.
Term
Continental Crust
Definition
The crust layer that covers a solid land mass. Much more variable, less dense.
Term
Core
Definition
The center 'layer' of the Earth. Iron-nickel solid inner core, magma outer core.
Term
Crust
Definition
The thinnest and outermost layer, consists of rocky matter, less dense than the mantle.
Term
Crystal
Definition
Any solid mineral body that grows with planar surfaces.
Term
Density
Definition
Mass per unit volume.
Term
Gas
Definition
It's gas. One of the three states of matter. Sometimes smelly.
Term
Gene
Definition
Regions of DNA coded for specific proteins.
Term
Glass
Definition
A non-crystalline solid with a wide range of compositions.
Term
Hydrocarbons
Definition
A organic carbon compound containing hydrogen.
Term
Igneous Rock
Definition
One of the three families of rocks. Formed by the cooling and hardening of magma. Also rock music by the band Igneous.
Term
Inner Core
Definition
The solid center of the tootsie pop known as Earth.
Term
Outer Core
Definition
The molten outer layer of the Earth surrounding the delicious inner core. Same composition as the inner core. Also a good name for a sci-fi TV series.
Term
Inorganic
Definition
Not organic. Or living (presumably).
Term
Ion
Definition
AN atom with an excess charge caused by electron transfer.
Term
Isotope
Definition
An atom with the same atomic number and chemical properties, but different mass.
Term
Lava
Definition
Molten rock.
Term
Lipid
Definition
A group of compounds, no polymers, diverse, do not dissolve in water.
Term
Liquid
Definition
It's ... liquid. Sloshes, drips, does liquidy stuff.
Term
Lithosphere
Definition
The uppermost mantle and the entire crust. The outermost layer of the Earth. Weaker than the Asthenosphere.
Term
Magma
Definition
Liquid, molten rock.
Term
Mantle
Definition
The thick shell of dense rocky matter surrounding the core. Not a mantel, or a mantelpiece.
Term
Matter
Definition
Stuff. Physical stuff. Has mass. And weight. And it takes up way too much space in your garage. Heavy stuff, bro.
Term
Mesosphere
Definition
Region of high temperature and high strength within the mantle from the core mantle boundary to about 350km. Middle sphere.
Term
Metamorphic Rock
Definition
Igneous or metamorphic rock changed by high temperatures or pressures.
Term
Mineral
Definition
The building blocks of which the geosphere is made. Must be naturally formed, inorganic, solid, have a specific chemical composition, and have a crystal structure.
Term
Mineral Assemblage
Definition
The kinds and amounts of minerals present in a rock.
Term
Molecule
Definition
The smallest unit that maintains the properties of a compound.
Term
Nucleic Acid
Definition
Giant organic polymers build from nucleotides, each of which contains a sugar group, phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
Term
Oceanic Crust
Definition
The crust covering the ocean floors.
Term
Phase
Definition
Solid, Liquid, or Gas.
Term
Plasma
Definition
The most common state of matter in the universe. An ionized gas with unique properties and characteristics.
Term
Plutonic Rock
Definition
A rock band from Pluto. Also a type of igneous rock that crystallized from magma underground.
Term
Polymer
Definition
A long organic chain of organic compounds. Somehow different from biopolymers.
Term
Protein
Definition
A chain of amino acids, and the building blocks of any organic being.
Term
Radioactive
Definition
An isotope emitting radiation. Transforms spontaneously to another isotope.
Term
Regolith
Definition
A layer of broken rock matter.
Term
Rock
Definition
A natural, non-living, hard thing. Part of a planet.
Term
Sediment
Definition
Sediment-shaped sediment. Constitutes the regolith.
Term
Sedimentary Rock
Definition
A rock formed by precipitation of sediment material.
Term
Soil
Definition
A type of regolith, organic matter mixed with mineral stuff. Can support rooted plants.
Term
Solid
Definition
Hard stuff. Used to whack people. And things.
Term
State
Definition
A physical form of matter. Solid, liquid, and gas.
Term
Texture
Definition
How it looks and feels.
Term
Vapor
Definition
See: Gas.
Term
Volcanic Rock
Definition
Rocks that crystallize from magma that emerged from a volcano.
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