Science Glossary: Key Terms for Home Experiments
Introduction
This glossary provides clear definitions for common scientific terms you’ll encounter in our experiments. Terms are organized alphabetically and color-coded by subject area for easy reference.
How to Use This Glossary
- Terms are listed alphabetically
- Subject areas are indicated by icons: 🧪 Chemistry 🔬 Biology ⚡ Physics 🌍 Earth Science 🔭 Astronomy 🌱 Environmental Science
A
Absorption (🧪) The process of taking in or soaking up something, such as when a paper towel soaks up water or a plant takes in nutrients.
Acid (🧪) A substance with a pH less than 7 that can react with metals and bases. Common examples include vinegar and lemon juice.
Adhesion (🧪) The tendency of different substances to stick together, like water droplets clinging to a window.
Alkali (🧪) Also called a base; a substance with a pH greater than 7 that can neutralize acids. Common examples include baking soda and soap.
B
Base (🧪) See Alkali.
Beaker (🧪) A cylindrical container with a pouring spout, used for measuring and mixing liquids in experiments.
Biology (🔬) The study of living things and their processes.
Boiling Point (🧪) The temperature at which a liquid turns into a gas. For water, this is 100°C (212°F) at sea level.
C
Catalyst (🧪) A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed by it.
Cell (🔬) The smallest unit of life that can function independently.
Chemical Reaction (🧪) A process where substances combine or break apart to form new substances.
Condensation (🧪) The process of a gas turning into a liquid, like water vapor forming droplets on a cold glass.
D
Density (⚡) The mass of a substance per unit volume, determining whether it will float or sink in other substances.
Diffusion (🔬) The movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
Dissolve (🧪) When a substance breaks down in a liquid to form a solution.
E
Ecosystem (🌱) A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.
Element (🧪) A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances through chemical means.
Evaporation (🧪) The process of a liquid turning into a gas at temperatures below its boiling point.
F
Force (⚡) A push or pull that can cause an object to start moving, stop moving, or change direction.
Friction (⚡) The resistance force between two surfaces that are moving against each other.
Freezing Point (🧪) The temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid. For water, this is 0°C (32°F).
G
Gravity (⚡) The force that attracts objects toward each other, particularly the force that attracts objects toward the center of the Earth.
H
Hypothesis (All Sciences) An educated guess or prediction about what will happen in an experiment, based on observations and research.
I
Inertia (⚡) The tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion.
Insulator (⚡) A material that does not easily allow heat or electricity to pass through it.
M
Mass (⚡) The amount of matter in an object.
Mixture (🧪) A combination of two or more substances where no chemical reaction occurs.
N
Neutral (🧪) Having a pH of 7, neither acidic nor basic.
O
Observation (All Sciences) Information gathered by using the senses or scientific instruments.
Oxidation (🧪) A chemical reaction where a substance combines with oxygen, such as when metal rusts.
P
pH Scale (🧪) A scale from 0 to 14 that measures how acidic or basic a substance is.
Photosynthesis (🔬) The process by which plants use sunlight to make food from carbon dioxide and water.
R
Reaction (🧪) See Chemical Reaction.
S
Solute (🧪) The substance that dissolves in a solution.
Solution (🧪) A mixture where one substance (solute) is dissolved in another substance (solvent).
Solvent (🧪) The substance that dissolves another substance in a solution.
T
Temperature (⚡) A measure of how hot or cold something is, based on the movement of its particles.
V
Variable (All Sciences) A factor that can be changed in an experiment.
Volume (⚡) The amount of space that something occupies.
Tips for Using Scientific Terms
- Always refer back to this glossary when you encounter unfamiliar terms
- Use proper scientific terminology in your experiment notes
- Understanding these terms will help you follow experiment instructions more accurately
- Many terms are related to each other; look for connections between definitions
[Note: This glossary is regularly updated as new experiments are added to our collection.]