| A | B |
|---|
| Amino acids | Molecules that join together to form proteins, the building blocks of all organisms. |
| Anaerobic | Without oxygen as a part of the environment. The opposite of aerobic. |
| Antibiotic | A chemical that weakens or stops bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms from growing. |
| Archaeologist | A scientist who studies ancient human cultures. |
| Arid | Dry, like a desert. |
| Bedrock | Mass of solid rock beneath the soil. Can be parent material if it is close enough to the surface to weather into soil. |
| Blocky | A soil structure. Soil particles are arranged into shapes that resemble small cubes with sharp or rounded edges. |
| Clay | The smallest-sized soil particles. Often have plate-like shapes. Feels sticky when wet. Also refers to a soil texture that consists of at least 40% clay particles. |
| CLORPT | The five factors that influence what type of soil forms: climate, organisms, relief (landscape), parent material, and time. |
| Columnar | A soil structure. Soil particles are arranged into tall vertical shapes or columns often with rounded tops. |
| Compost | The remains of plants and animals after they have decomposed. Can be used to fertilize soil and to improve its structure and ability to hold water. |
| Compounds | The combination of two or more elements. For example, hydrogen and oxygen combine to make water. |
| Decompose | To break down a compound into simpler compounds. Often accomplished with the help of micro-organisms. |
| Developed soil | A soil that has had a long time to form, such as most tropical soils. A mature soil. |
| Deficiency | Lacking in something important. A deficiency of nutrients in a plant, for example, can stunt its growth |
| Dormant | A state in which a plant or animal is not growing. |
| Ecologist | A scientist who studies interactions between organisms and their environment. |
| Eluviated horizon | A horizon from which minerals, clay, and/or organic matter have been leached. |
| Enzyme | A protein that increases the rate of chemical reactions in an organism’s cells. |
| Erode | To wear away, or remove, rock or soil particles by water, ice, and/or gravity. |
