Edexcel GCSE Combined Science key terms

A substance that reacts with an acid to form a salt and water only.

The unit of activity, symbol Bq. An activity of 1 Bq means one nuclear decay per second.

A survey of a strip of habitat using quadrats placed along a line, either next to one another or at regular intervals.

Radioactive decay in which a neutron changes into a proton and an electron is emitted from the nucleus.

A fast-moving electron emitted from an unstable nucleus.

Radioactive decay in which a proton changes into a neutron and a positron is emitted from the nucleus.

Able to be broken down by living organisms, such as microorganisms.

The variety of living organisms in an area.

A fuel made from recently living biological material, such as plants or their waste.

The use of living organisms to control the population of a pest.

The material making up living organisms; it contains carbon in biological molecules.

The living organisms in an ecosystem, such as plants, animals and microorganisms.

A living component of an environment, or an influence involving living organisms.

Walking on two legs.

A measure of body mass relative to height, calculated using $\text{BMI}=\frac{\text{mass in kg}}{(\text{height in m})^2}$.

The temperature at which a liquid boils and changes into a gas.

The energy needed to break one mole of a particular type of bond, measured in $\text{kJ mol}^{-1}$.

Soft tissue inside bones that contains stem cells which produce new blood cells.

The distance a vehicle travels from when the brakes are applied until it stops.

A solution that maintains a particular pH.

A disease resulting from changes in cells that cause uncontrolled cell division.

A tiny blood vessel with a wall one cell thick, adapted for exchanging substances between blood and tissues.

A process that captures carbon dioxide before it enters the atmosphere, then stores it, for example underground.

The movement and reuse of carbon between organisms and non-living stores through processes including photosynthesis, feeding, respiration, decomposition and combustion.

A colourless, odourless toxic gas, CO, which binds strongly to haemoglobin and reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen.

The volume of blood pumped out of the left ventricle per unit time, calculated as stroke volume multiplied by heart rate.

Disease affecting the heart or blood vessels.