FOSS Mixtures and Solutions Module Glossary

Science is a rich content area for developing language concepts and vocabulary. While conducting FOSS investigations, students are involved in observing properties, comparing and organizing their observations, and identifying relationships from their observations. In order to effectively communicate the results of their investigations, it is important to use concise and appropriate vocabulary. Students need to develop a sound vocabulary that will serve them in science and life.

Informal descriptive language and precise scientific vocabulary is best developed after direct concrete experience. As students conduct the investigations in the FOSS Mixtures and Solutions Module, vocabulary is introduced naturally after students have had an experience to which to connect the new words.

Some of the vocabulary is introduced and reviewed with students in the Wrapping Up section of the investigation folio in the Teacher Guide. These are listed below and identified with the abbreviation TG. Additional words are introduced and included FOSS Science Stories glossary. These words are identified with the abbreviation SS.

Click here to get the Spanish version of this glossary.

Spanish Glossary

Click either of the links below for the list of terms and their definitions.

Teacher Guide Glossary Terms (TG) Science Stories Glossary Terms (SS)

Printable pdf versions are also available. To view or print these files you must have a pdf viewer such as Adobe Acrobat. Acrobat is free and can be downloaded at http://www.adobe.com.

Mixtures and Solutions Module Glossary Terms (pdf)

Mixtures and Solutions Module Glossary (pdf)

Mixtures and Solutions Module Glossary Terms (pdf) (Spanish Version)

Mixtures and Solutions Module Glossary (pdf) (Spanish Version)

In the course of the investigations, students are encouraged to learn and use the following vocabulary:


Mixtures and Solutions Glossary Terms

Teacher Guide Terms

Investigation 1: Separating Mixtures
Crystal
Dissolving
Evaporation
Mixture
Property
Solution
Investigation 2: Reaching Saturation
Saturated solution
Solubility
Solute
Solvent
Investigation 3: Concentration
Concentration
Dilute
Volume
Investigation 4: Fizz Quiz
Change
Chemical reaction
Precipitate
Reactant
Science Stories Terms

Investigation 1: Separating Mixtures
Atom Mixture
Chemical Molecule
Chemist Solute
Chemistry Solution
Compound Solvent
Dissolving
Element
Evaporate
Investigation 2: Reaching Saturation
Citric acid
Fermenting
Metabolism
Soluble
Investigation 3: Concentration
Concentration
Crystal
Global warming
Saturated solution
Investigation 4: Fizz Quiz
Alloy Product
Catalyst Reactant
Chemical bond Synthetic
Chemical reaction Vulcanization
Density
Ingot
Periodic table
Precipitate
Mixtures and Solutions Glossary Definitions

Alloy
A combination of two or more metals. (SS)

Atom
The smallest particle of an element. Atoms are the building blocks of matter. (SS)

Catalyst
A chemical that changes the rate of a reaction. (SS)

Change
The process of becoming something different. (TG)

Chemical
A substance used in chemistry. (SS)

Chemical bond
The attachment between two atoms in a molecule. (SS)

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Chemical reaction
The process in which two or more substances combine to make one or more new substances that have different properties than the original ones. (TG, SS)

Chemist
A person trained in chemistry. (SS)

Chemistry
The branch of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of matter. (SS)

Citric acid
A white, odorless acid with a sour taste. (SS)

Compound
A substance made of two or more elements that are chemically combined. (SS)

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Concentration
The relative amount of a substance in a mixture. (SS, TG)

Crystal
The solid form of a material that can be identified by its natural shape or pattern. (TG, SS)

Density
The ratio of the mass of a material in proportion to its volume. (SS)

Dilute
To make a solution less concentrated, usually by adding more liquid. (TG)

Dissolving
The process of a material becoming incorporated uniformly into another or mixing together evenly. (TG, SS)

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Element
A substance that cannot be broken down by simple chemical and physical processes. (SS)

Evaporate
To turn into gas, like water into water vapor. (SS)

Evaporation
The process of a liquid turning to gas and dispersing into the air, leaving any dissolved solid material behind. (TG)

Fermenting
A gradual chemical change that takes place without oxygen, caused by organisms such as bacteria or yeast. (SS)

Global warming
Warming of the Earth worldwide. (SS)

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Ingot
A mass of metal cast in the shape of a bar. (SS)

Metabolism
The chemical processes that take place in a living cell or organism. (SS)

Mixture
A substance containing two or more materials with different properties. (TG, SS)

Molecule
The smallest part of a substance that is made up of two or more atoms. (SS)

Periodic table
An arrangement of the elements that provides information about their properties. (SS)

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Precipitate
A solid material that forms during a chemical reaction. (TG, SS)

Product
A new molecule created in a chemical reaction. (SS)

Property
A characteristic of an object that can be observed, such as size, color, shape, or texture. (TG)

Reactant
A chemical that takes part in a chemical reaction. (SS, TG)

Saturated solution
A solution in which as much solute as possible has been dissolved. (TG, SS)

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Solubility
The property substances have of dissolving in solvents, such as the solubility of salt in water. (TG)

Soluble
Capable of being dissolved. Table salt is soluble in water. (SS)

Solute
A substance that dissolves in a solvent to form a solution. (TG, SS)

Solution
A special mixture formed when one or more materials dissolves in another. (TG, SS)

Solvent
A substance that dissolves a solute to form a solution. (TG, SS)

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Synthetic
Something made artificially or by a laboratory chemical process, rather than by a natural process. (SS)

Volume
The three-dimensional space occupied by liquid. (TG)

Vulcanization
The process of treating rubber chemically in order to give it useful properties such as strength and temperature stability. (SS)

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