element
a substance that cannot be chemically broken down into a simpler substance
compound
a substance containing two or more chemically bonded together
molecule
a group of atoms covalently bonded together
atom
the smallest particle an element be divided into and still be the same substance
kinetic particle theory
how particles move in relation to each other and the amount of energy within the system
water vapor
gaseous phase / state of water produced when water evaporates
proton
a positively charged subatomic particle contained within the nucleus of an atom
neutrons
a neutral subatomic particle contained within the nucleus of an atom
electron
a negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom
nucleus
the positively charged central core of an atom that is made of protons and neutrons
shells
each of a set of orbitals around the nucleus of an atom that can be occupied by electrons
atomic number
the number of protons contained in the nucleus of an atom
bond
a strong force of attraction holding atoms together in a substance
emergent properties
characteristics that are present within a compound or molecule of two or more different elements that those elements do not possess on their own
covalent bond
chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms
ionic bond
chemical bond that involves the attraction between two oppositely charged ions
hydrogen bond
a weak bond between two molecules due to the electrostatic attraction between a hydrogen atom in one molecule and an atom of oxygen, nitrogen or fluorine in the other molecule
ion
an atom or molecule that has lost or gained one or more electrons creating an electrical charge
polar
when opposing sides of a molecule have contrasting (partial) electrical charges
solvent
a substance which is able to dissolve other substances
density
a measure of the mass of a defined volume of water
specific heat capacity
the heat required to raise the temperature of the unit mass of a given substance by one degree Celsius
solute
a solid that dissolves in a solvent
solution
a mixture of a solute dissolved in a solvent
solubility
the ability of a solute to dissolve within a solvent (such as water)
dissolution
the process of being disolved
salinity
a measure of the quantity of dissolved solids in ocean water, represented by ppt or %
precipitation
water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface as rain, sleet, snow or hail
runoff
the flow of water from land caused by precipitation
evaporation
a change in state from liquid to gas below the boiling point of a substance
hypersaline
when a body of water has a salinity level greater than 40 ppt
halocline
a layer of water below the mixed surface layer where a rapid change in salinity can be measured as depth increases
thermocline
a layer between two layers of water with different temperatures
pH
a numeric value expressing the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a logarithmic scale
acidic
having a pH below 7
alkaline
having a pH above 7
neutral
having a pH that equals 7
pH scale
a logarithmic scale that measures the ratio of hydrogen ions to hydroxide ions
turbulence
irregular changes in the speed and direction of fluid movement
dissolved oxygen (DO)
concentration of oxygen dissolved in a solution
phytoplankton
microscopic photosynthetic organisms that live in the upper, sunlit layers of water
oxygen minimum layer
the layer within the ocean where the concentration of dissolved oxygen is at its lowest, typically found between 100 and 1000 m deep
water column
a vertical section water from the surface to the bottom
gradient
the rate of change in the y-axis value as the x-axis value increases
thermal insulator
a substance which reduces the rate of transfer of thermal energy
pycnocline
a layer of water between two layers of water with different densities
principle of constant proportions
the ratio of any two major ions dissolved in seawater is constant