Science and the Natural World: English Vocabulary List

(science) the smallest part of a chemical element that is found in the nature

"Water is made of one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms."

"An atom consists of a nucleus surrounded by electrons."

a living thing such as a plant, animal, etc., especially a very small one that lives on its own

"Every living organism needs water and food."

"Every single living organism on Earth needs water to survive and thrive."

done according to a planned and orderly system

"She takes a systematic approach."

"The systematic approach helped us solve the problem step by step."

a usually solid and hard substance that heat and electricity can move through, such as gold, iron, etc.

"This metal is very strong."

"Iron is a strong metal commonly used in construction and manufacturing industries."

made or consisting of plastic, a substance produced in a chemical process

"The cup is plastic."

"The plastic bag was not strong enough to hold all of the heavy groceries so it ripped open in the parking lot."

a nonmetal element that can be found in all organic compounds and living things

"Carbon is important."

"Carbon is a fundamental element of organic chemistry because all known life forms on Earth are built from carbon based molecules and compounds."

a chemical element in gas form with no color that living things need for breathing

"Oxygen is essential for life."

"Plants release oxygen during photosynthesis which is essential for animals and humans to breathe making them critically important for life on our planet."

to study a subject carefully and systematically to discover new facts or information about it

"Students research the topic before writing."

"The graduate student spent several months in the library to research her thesis topic thoroughly before she began writing the actual paper."

a specific way or process of doing something, particularly an established or systematic one

"This method works very well."

"The researcher developed a new method for analyzing data that significantly improved the accuracy of the experiment results."

to make or design something that did not exist before

"Edison invented the light bulb."

"Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876 which revolutionized global communication forever."

someone who makes or designs something that did not exist before

"The inventor was famous."

"The inventor created a useful machine that changed daily life."

something that is known to be true or real, especially when it can be proved

"That is a fact."

"It is a well established fact that smoking cigarettes increases your risk of developing lung cancer and other serious respiratory diseases over time."

the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry

"Technology changes fast."

"Modern technology has made communication faster and easier but some people argue that it has also reduced the quality of face to face interactions."

the part of a vehicle that uses a particular fuel to make the vehicle move

"The engine is loud."

"The engine overheated because the cooling system failed causing the car to break down in the middle of the highway during rush hour."

made by a process that involves chemistry

"This is chemical."

"The experiment involved mixing several chemical compounds to observe their reaction."

the state of a substance that is neither solid nor liquid

"Helium is a light gas."

"Natural gas is a fossil fuel used for heating homes and generating electricity in power plants."

the state of a substance that is without shape and can flow easily

"Water is a liquid."

"The chemical analysis confirmed the substance was a volatile liquid at room temperature."

a substance that is firm and has a certain shape, not like gas or liquid

"Ice is a solid form of water."

"Ice is a solid form of water that melts when heated."

a substance from which things can be made

"Wood is a good material."

"The engineers selected a new composite material for its superior strength and flexibility."

a particular kind of matter in gas, solid, or liquid form

"The substance is thick."

"The unknown substance found in the laboratory turned out to be completely harmless but it took scientists three days to identify its chemical composition."

relating to, produced by, or using electricity

"I have an electric toothbrush."

"The electric car is quiet and does not produce any exhaust fumes."

having actual existence and not imaginary

"Is this real gold?"

"The real diamond was much more expensive than the fake one."

a light substance produced in a chemical process that can be formed into different shapes when heated

"This is plastic."

"The reusable water bottle was made of durable plastic, designed to withstand daily use and reduce single-use waste."

a metallic chemical element with a silvery-gray appearance, widely used for making tools, steel, buildings, and various industrial products

"The pot is made of iron."

"The ancient civilization was known for its advanced metallurgy, particularly its skillful manipulation of iron."

a valuable yellow-colored metal that is used for making jewelry

"The ring is made of pure gold."

"The ring was made of pure gold and had a small diamond in the center that sparkled brightly in the sunlight."

a shiny grayish-white metal of high value that heat and electricity can move through it and is used in jewelry making, electronics, etc.

"The ring is silver."

"The antique silverware was made of pure sterling silver."

a hard material, usually made of minerals, and often used for building things

"The stone is very heavy."

"The ancient castle was constructed entirely from massive blocks of stone."

a sample, showing what the rest of the data is typically like

"This is a good example."

"She gave an example that made the rule easier to understand."

to be the first person who finds something or someplace that others did not know about

"They discover a new star."

"Archaeologists hope to discover ancient artifacts buried deep within the ruins."

the act of finding something for the first time and before others

"The discovery of oil changed the country."

"The scientist's discovery of a new species made international headlines last week."

something such as a hammer, saw, etc. that is held in the hand and used for a specific job

"The tool is useful."

"The hammer is a basic tool but without it simple tasks like hanging a picture or repairing a loose shelf become much more difficult."

something that explains an action or event

"There is a reason."

"The main reason she decided to resign was the lack of opportunities for professional growth rather than dissatisfaction with her salary or colleagues."

information or facts collected to be used for various purposes

"The survey collected a lot of data."

"Analyzing big data requires sophisticated algorithms and powerful computational resources."

the act of directing your attention and energy toward a particular thing or task

"You need to focus on your studies."

"To complete this project successfully you need to maintain focus and avoid distractions like social media notifications and unnecessary meetings."

anything that we can hear

"The sound of waves crashing is very relaxing."

"The sound of waves crashing is very relaxing and helps him fall asleep at night."

a place where people do scientific experiments, manufacture drugs, etc.

"The laboratory has many tools."

"The chemistry students wore safety goggles and white lab coats while working in the laboratory on their assigned experiment."

something that is caused by something else

"The test result was good."

"The result of the experiment surprised everyone because it contradicted the original hypothesis."