Fundamental Concepts in Natural Science

The Living Organisms

Nutrition Types

• Autotrophs: Organisms that make their own food.
• Heterotrophs: Organisms that require complex organic matter.

Reproduction and Cellularity

• Asexual Reproduction: Involves a single individual.
• Sexual Reproduction: Involves two individuals (or gametes).

Cellular Structure

• Unicellular: Formed by a single cell.
• Multicellular: Consisting of many cells.

The Vertebrates

Vertebrates are multicellular organisms with eukaryotic cells and heterotrophic nutrition. They are capable of movement.

Classes of Vertebrates

• Fish: Have fins.
• Mammals: Body covered with hair or fur.
• Birds: Have feathers and wings.
• Amphibians: Have moist and fine skin.
• Reptiles: Body covered with scales.

Characteristics of Fish

Fish are fusiform, have fins, their body is covered with scales, and they possess a lateral line.

The Invertebrates

Major Invertebrate Groups

• Porifera: Sponges.
• Cnidarians (Coelenterates): Aquatic organisms like jellyfish and corals.

Cnidarian Features

• Radial symmetry.
• Soft body.
• Carnivorous.

Soft-Bodied Characteristics

Soft body, no skeleton.

Arthropod Characteristics

• Bilateral symmetry.
• Body divided into three parts.
• Are oviparous (egg-laying).

Plants and Fungi

General Characteristics

They are multicellular, have eukaryotic cells, are autotrophic, and are fixed to the substrate.

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process where the plant converts raw sap into elaborated sap, requiring sunlight and carbon dioxide.

Geology: Minerals and Rocks

Minerals

Minerals are solids formed by the chemical combination of elements that are in the Earth's crust.

Mineral Characteristics

• Natural occurrence.
• Inorganic origin.
• Homogeneous chemical composition.

Types of Minerals

• Amorphous Minerals: Minerals whose constituents are disordered.
• Crystallized Minerals: Minerals whose components are placed in an orderly manner.

Rocks

Rocks are solids made up of several minerals.

The Nature of Matter

States of Matter

• Solid: Has its own shape and fixed volume.
• Liquid: Does not have its own shape, but has fixed volume and can flow.
• Gas: Has no fixed shape and no fixed volume.

Changes of State

Liquid Transitions

• Liquid to Solid: Solidification
• Solid to Liquid: Fusion (Melting)
• Liquid to Gas: Vaporization
• Gas to Liquid: Condensation

Solid-Gas Transitions

• Solid to Gas: Sublimation
• Gas to Solid: Regressive Sublimation (Deposition)

Mixtures and Solutions

• Homogeneous Matter: Matter of a uniform appearance.
• Heterogeneous Matter: Matter that presents an uneven appearance, where distinct parts can be distinguished.

Components of a Solution

• Solvent: The component found in greater quantity in a solution.
• Solute: The minority component of the solution.