IELTS Reading Vocab Builder: Science

The careful and detailed examination of something in order to understand or explain it

The scientist's analysis of the soil samples showed high levels of pollution.

A substance that makes a chemical reaction happen faster without being used up or changed itself

The teacher explained that enzymes act as a catalyst in many reactions inside the human body.

A substance formed when two or more chemical elements are joined together in fixed amounts

Salt is a common compound made from sodium and chlorine atoms.

All the living things in an area, together with the non-living elements such as air, water, and soil, working together as a system

Cutting down trees can seriously damage the ecosystem of a forest.

The gradual process by which living things change and develop over many generations to better survive in their environment

Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution after studying animals on the Galapagos Islands.

A test or series of tests done carefully to study what happens under certain conditions and to discover or prove something

The students did an experiment to see which material absorbs the most water.

The force that slows down or resists movement when two surfaces rub against each other

Friction between the car's tires and the road helps the car stop when the driver uses the brakes.

The complete set of genetic information found in a living thing, which controls how it develops and functions

Scientists mapped the human genome to better understand how genes affect our health.

An idea or explanation that has not yet been proven, which is used as a starting point for research or investigation

The scientist formed a hypothesis that plants grow faster with more sunlight.

The smallest unit of a substance that still has all the properties of that substance, made of two or more atoms joined together

A water molecule is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

Any living thing, such as an animal, plant, or bacterium, that can grow and reproduce

Bacteria are very small organisms that can only be seen under a microscope.

An extremely small piece of matter, such as an atom or molecule, that makes up all physical substances

Dust particles floating in the air can cause problems for people with allergies.

The process by which green plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce their own food and release oxygen

Without photosynthesis, plants could not make food, and most life on Earth could not survive.

The smallest possible unit of energy or matter in physics, related to the behavior of very tiny particles

Quantum physics helps scientists understand how atoms and electrons behave at a very small scale.

Energy that is sent out in the form of waves or particles, such as heat, light, or nuclear energy

The doctor used radiation to treat the patient's cancer.

A sample of something, such as a plant, animal, or substance, collected for scientific study or examination

The biology students examined a specimen of a leaf under the microscope.

The ability to use resources and live in a way that does not damage the environment or use up resources so that future generations can also meet their needs

The city introduced new recycling programs to improve its sustainability and protect the environment.

The process of combining separate elements or substances to create something new

The synthesis of the new medicine took several years of careful research in the laboratory.

A factor or condition in an experiment that can be changed, measured, or controlled

In their experiment, the amount of water given to each plant was the variable being tested.

The speed of something moving in a particular direction

The velocity of the ball increased as it rolled down the hill.