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5th Grade Core Science Vocabulary
Physical Science
1
acid
A substance that tastes sour, reacts with metals and carbohydrates, and turns blue
litmus paper red. (Ch. 8 L. 3)
2
atom
3
base
4
chemical
reaction
(change)
5
compound
6
density
7
element
8
indicator
9
mass
10
matter
11
mixture
12
molecule
13
Periodic Table
14
pH scale
15
property
16
solution
The basic, unique building blocks of each element. Atoms are made up of subatomic
particles called protons (+), neutrons, and electrons (-). (Ch. 7 L. 2)
A substance that tastes bitter, feels slippery, and turns which red litmus paper blue
and reacts with acids to form salts. (Ch. 8 L. 3)
A change in which one or more substances combine or break apart to create new
compounds which have different properties from the original reactants. Chemical
reactions can be associated with a change in temperature, color, and chemical
properties. (Ch. 8 L. 1)
A pure substance made of molecules that are formed when two or more atoms from
different elements bond during a chemical reaction.
NOTE: Not all molecules can be compounds. Example: The oxygen molecule has two
atoms of oxygen (O2), and is not a compound. (Ch. 7 L. 5)
A measure of how tightly packed molecules (matter) are in a given amount of space.
Density is a ratio measured as mass per unit of volume; unit label is g/cm3.
(Ch. 7 L. 1)
A pure substance, which is made up of a single type of atom that cannot be broken
down into any simpler substances by chemical or physical means. Each element has
its own square on the Periodic Table. (Ch. 7 L. 2)
A substance that changes color in the presence of an acid or a base.
Example: Litmus paper, pH paper, cabbage juice, BTB solution, iodine (Ch. 8 L. 3)
The amount of matter in a substance, which is measured in grams (g). Mass is not
weight, rather weight is the pull of gravity on matter and is measured in pounds (lb).
(Ch. 7 L. 1)
Anything that has mass and takes up space.
The States of Matter are: solid, liquid and gas (Ch. 7 L. 1)
A combination of two or more different substances that retain their physical properties,
and are not chemically combined. Mixtures can be separated by methods such as:
sorting, filtering, evaporation, magnetism, etc. (Ch. 7 L. 4)
The smallest unit of a substance made of two or more atoms chemically bonded
together. (Ch. 7 L. 3)
A chart that shows all of the known elements, organized by atomic number. The table
places elements into groups or families based on their properties. (Ch. 7 L. 3)
A scale that assigns a number (0 to 14) to the strength or an acid or a base:
water is neutral at 7
above 7 is a base (alkali)
below 7 is an acid (Ch. 8 L. 3)
Physical property of matter: an observable trait that can be measured.
Example: mass, volume, color, etc. (Ch. 7 L. 1)
Chemical property of matter: traits observed during a chemical change
Examples: burning, oxidizing (rust/ tarnish), etc. (Ch. 7 L. 5)
A mixture in which one substance (the solute) is dissolved into another substance
(the solvent). Example: In salt water, the salt is the solute and the water is the solvent
(Ch. 7 L. 4)
Life Science
17
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cell
The smallest unit of living things that can carry out the basic processes of life.
Cells are made up of organelles which each have their own structure and function.
Animal and plant cells have the following organelles:
nucleus-controls all activities
mitochondria- breaks down food into energy
vacuole- storage
cell membrane- protective layer, which allows materials to enter and exit the
cell
cytoplasm- gel like substance that fills a cell
In addition, most plant cells have a:
cell wall- an additional layer, that provides extra support since plants do not
have bones
chloroplasts-contains chlorophyll, which gives plants their green appearance
and is the location where photosynthesis takes place, turning sunlight into food
energy (sugar). (Ch. 1 L. 1)
cellular
A chemical process that occurs in both plant and animal cells, in which energy is
respiration
released from food (sugar). (Ch. 2 L. 3)
Circulatory
The organ system in the body which moves blood. The circulatory system includes the
System
heart, arteries, veins and capillaries;:Cardiovascular System (Ch. 3 L. 4)
Digestive
The organ system in the body which breaks down food into nutrients to be absorbed
System
and used to produce and utilize energy. Water is absorbed into the blood through the
intestines. Organs in the digestive system include the Mouth, Esophagus, Stomach,
Small Intestine, Large Intestine or Colon. (Ch. 3 L.1-2)
Excretory
The organ system which removes excess water and waste from the body as urine.
System
The waste materials are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys and sent to the bladder
for storage and elimination. (Ch. 3 L. 5)
organ
A group of tissues that work together to perform a specific bodily function. (Ch. 1 L. 2)
organelle
A tiny structure within a cell that performs a specific cellular function (“little organ”).
(Ch. 1 L. 1)
organism
A whole living thing. Organisms are classified into Domains that include: Animals,
Plants, Fungi, Protists, and Bacteria (Ch. 1 L. 2)
organ system
A group of organs in the body that work together to perform related functions.
(Ch. 1 L. 2)
photosynthesis A chemical process by which plants produce food using sunlight, water and carbon
dioxide (CO2):
Energy + 6 CO2 + 6 H2O = C6H12O6 +6 O2
Energy + Carbon Dioxide + Water = Glucose (sugar) + Oxygen (Ch. 2 L. 3)
Respiratory
The organ system that brings oxygen into the blood stream through the lungs for
System
cellular respiration, and also removes waste gases from the blood.
This system includes: mouth, nose, trachea, bronchi, lungs, and alveoli, (Ch. 3 L. 3)
tissue
A group of similar cells, working together to complete a function. Tissues come
together to form organs. (Ch. 6 L. 2)
Earth Science
29
air pressure
30
31
32
atmosphere
humidity
hydrologic
(water) cycle
33
revolution
34
rotation
35
solar system
A force created by the weight of air particles pushing in all directions on a surface.
Changes or differences in air pressure in the atmosphere of the Earth cause wind.
(Ch. 5 L. 1)
All gases surrounding the Earth and other astronomical bodies. (Ch. 5 L. 1)
Amount of moisture or water vapor in the air. (Ch. 5 L. 1)
The continuous movement of Earth’s water from one phase (liquid) to another (gas)
and back again, powered by the Sun’s heat:
Precipitation: water pulled back to the Earth’s surface by gravity, in the form of
rain, sleet, snow, hail or fog.
Evaporation: water heated to a gas from accumulated sources, such as:
oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.
Condensation: water vapor that cools and changes from a gas to a liquid.
(Ch. 4 L. 2)
A complete orbit of a planet around a star, or a moon around a planet. The Earth
travels along an elliptical orbit, completing one revolution every 364.25 days.
(Ch. 6 L. 3)
The spin of a star, planet or moon on its axis. The Earth makes one rotation on its
axis each 24 hours (one day). (Ch. 6 L. 3)
The sun (a star) and all objects including planets, moons, comets, and asteroids that
orbit around it. Our Solar System is located in the Milky Way Galaxy. (Ch. 6 L. 2)