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