Geology rocks!
the layer of Earth below the mantle
Core
the return of water from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail, 81; the process of separating a solid substance (precipitate) from a solution
Precipitation
matter that organisms need to carry out their life processes
Nutrient
the process by which organisms use oxygen to release the chemical energy of sugars, producing carbon dioxide and water
Cellular respiration
the basic unit of matter; the smallest unit that maintains the chemical properties of an element
Atom
the layer of very hot but mostly solid rock beneath Earth’s crust
Mantle
a change in state from a liquid to a gas
Evaporation
the process by which primary producers use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars, releasing oxygen
Photosynthesis
an organic compound made up of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur
Protein
a combination of two or more atoms
Molecule
one of the rigid layers of the lithosphere
Tectonic plate
a change in state from a vapor to a liquid
Condensation
an organism that relies on other organisms for energy and nutrients; also called heterotroph
Consumer
chemically diverse compound that does not dissolve in water
Lipid
an organic compound that consists of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Carbohydrate
all of the rock at and below Earth’s surface
Geosphere
all of the water—salt water and fresh water, in the form of liquid, ice, or vapor—above and below Earth’s surface and in the atmosphere
Hydrosphere
an organism (e.g., a fungus or bacterium) that breaks down nonliving matter into simple parts that can then be taken up and reused by primary producers
Decomposer
an organic compound that consists of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Carbohydrate
a chemical substance with a unique set of properties that cannot be broken down into substances with other properties
Element
sphere of Earth made up of the hard rock on and just below Earth’s surface; the outermost layer of both Earth and its geosphere
Lithosphere
a spongelike formation of rock, sand, or gravel that holds water
Aquifer
an organism that can capture energy from the sun or from chemicals and store it; also called autotroph
Primary producer
a large organic molecule; includes proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids
Macromolecule
a substance combining atoms of two or more different elements
Compound