Unit 4-Energy and Life Vocabulary

Reactants

• The products formed in a chemical reaction.

• The starting materials in a chemical reaction, such as sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

• The catalysts that speed up a chemical reaction.

• The byproducts that are released after a chemical reaction.

Carbon Cycle

• The process by which carbon is stored in rocks and fossil fuels.

• The way carbon moves through the Earth’s systems—air, water, living things, and land.

• A method of carbon capture and storage in the atmosphere.

• The cycle of carbon emissions from human activities.

Conservation of Mass

• The idea that matter is created and destroyed in a chemical reaction.

• The idea that matter is not created or destroyed in a chemical reaction—it just changes form.

• The idea that mass can be lost during a chemical reaction.

• The idea that only energy is conserved in a chemical reaction.

Geosphere

• All the solid parts of Earth—like rocks, mountains, and land.

• The layer of gases surrounding Earth.

• The liquid water found on Earth’s surface.

• The biosphere, which includes all living organisms.

Chloroplasts

• Tiny parts inside plant cells where photosynthesis happens.

• Organelles responsible for cellular respiration in animals.

• Structures that provide support to plant cells.

• Components that store genetic information in cells.

Hydrosphere

• All the water on Earth—like oceans, lakes, rivers, and even underground water.

• The layer of gases surrounding Earth.

• The solid part of the Earth, including rocks and soil.

• The part of the Earth that supports life, including plants and animals.

Chlorophyll

• The green pigment in plants that helps absorb sunlight for photosynthesis.

• A type of carbohydrate found in plants.

• A hormone that regulates plant growth.

• A mineral essential for plant health.

Cellular Respiration

• The process cells use to break down food (like sugar) and release energy.

• A method for plants to absorb sunlight and produce oxygen.

• The way cells divide to form new cells.

• A technique for storing energy in the form of fat.

Photosynthesis

• The process plants use to make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

• A method of respiration in animals.

• The way plants absorb nutrients from the soil.

• A technique for growing plants in artificial environments.

Atmosphere

• The layer of gases (like oxygen and carbon dioxide) that surrounds Earth.

• A type of weather pattern that occurs in the stratosphere.

• The solid outer layer of the Earth.

• A region of space beyond the Earth's gravitational pull.