100 Important Science Definitions and Terms

100 Important Science Definitions & Terminology for Science Lovers

Dear friends, there are so many important science definitions and terminology that help us understand the science & world around us. Whether you are a school student, college student, teacher, competitive exam aspirant, or simply curious about science, knowing these basic scientific terms is very useful.

Here we have compiled 100 important science definitions and terminologies with simple explanations. You can use this page as a quick reference guide and science glossary.

100 Important Science Definitions & Terminology for Science Lovers

1. pH

pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is. Lemon juice has a low pH, while soap solution has a high pH.

2. Density

Density is the mass present in a unit volume of a substance. Iron has a higher density than wood.

3. Viscosity

Viscosity is the resistance of a liquid to flow. Honey is more viscous than water.

4. Diffusion

Diffusion is the movement of particles from a region of high concentration to low concentration. The smell of perfume spreading in a room is an example.

5. Osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution.

6. Surface Tension

Surface tension is the tendency of a liquid surface to behave like a stretched elastic sheet.

7. Solubility

Solubility is the ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent.

8. Temperature

Temperature is the measure of how hot or cold a substance is.

9. Pressure

Pressure is the force applied per unit area.

10. Concentration

Concentration indicates the amount of solute present in a solution.

11. Molarity

Molarity is the number of moles of solute present in one litre of solution.

12. Molality

Molality is the number of moles of solute present in one kilogram of solvent.

13. Conductivity

Conductivity is the ability of a material to conduct electricity.

14. Electrical Conductivity

Electrical conductivity measures how easily electric current flows through a material.

15. Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivity measures how easily heat passes through a material.

16. Specific Gravity

Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of water.

17. Adsorption

Adsorption is the accumulation of molecules on the surface of a substance.

18. Absorption

Absorption is the process in which one substance enters the bulk of another substance.

19. Catalysis

Catalysis is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction using a catalyst.

20. Entropy

Entropy is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system.

21. Enthalpy

Enthalpy is the total heat content of a system.

22. Evaporation

Evaporation is the conversion of a liquid into vapour from its surface.

23. Condensation

Condensation is the conversion of vapour into liquid.

24. Sublimation

Sublimation is the direct conversion of a solid into vapour without becoming liquid.

25. Crystallization

Crystallization is the process of forming crystals from a solution.

26. Distillation

Distillation is a method used to separate liquids based on differences in boiling points.

27. Filtration

Filtration is the process of separating solids from liquids using a filter.

28. Centrifugation

Centrifugation is the separation of substances by spinning them at high speed.

29. Chromatography

Chromatography is a technique used to separate mixture components.

30. Buffer Solution

A buffer solution resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.

31. Electrolysis

Electrolysis is the decomposition of a substance using electric current.

32. Oxidation

Oxidation is the loss of electrons by a substance.

33. Reduction

Reduction is the gain of electrons by a substance.

34. Corrosion

Corrosion is the gradual destruction of metals by chemical reactions.

35. Rusting

Rusting is the corrosion of iron in the presence of oxygen and moisture.

36. Polymerization

Polymerization is the process of joining small molecules to form large molecules.

37. Fermentation

Fermentation is the conversion of sugars into alcohol, acids, or gases by microorganisms.

38. Radioactivity

Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of radiation from unstable nuclei.

39. Half-Life

Half-life is the time required for half of a radioactive substance to decay.

40. Isotope

Isotopes are atoms of the same element having different numbers of neutrons.

41. Allotropy

Allotropy is the existence of an element in different forms in the same physical state.

42. Flash Point

Flash point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid produces ignitable vapours.

43. Boiling Point

Boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid changes into vapour.

44. Melting Point

Melting point is the temperature at which a solid becomes liquid.

45. Refractive Index

Refractive index measures how much light bends when entering a medium.

46. Hardness of Water

Hardness of water is caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium salts.

47. Turbidity

Turbidity indicates the cloudiness of a liquid.

48. Acidity

Acidity is the ability of a substance to donate hydrogen ions.

49. Alkalinity

Alkalinity is the ability of a substance to neutralize acids.

50. Validation

Validation is documented evidence that a process consistently produces desired results.

51. Calibration

Calibration is the comparison of an instrument with a known standard.

52. Qualification

Qualification proves that equipment works as intended.

53. Accuracy

Accuracy indicates how close a measurement is to the true value.

54. Precision

Precision indicates how close repeated measurements are to each other.

55. Repeatability

Repeatability is the ability to obtain the same results under identical conditions.

56. Reproducibility

Reproducibility is obtaining similar results under changed conditions.

57. Standard Deviation

Standard deviation measures the spread of data around the mean value.

58. Uncertainty

Uncertainty represents doubt associated with a measurement result.

59. Limit of Detection (LOD)

LOD is the smallest amount of a substance that can be detected.

60. Limit of Quantification (LOQ)

LOQ is the smallest amount of a substance that can be accurately measured.

61. Assay

Assay is the determination of the amount or purity of a substance.

62. Titration

Titration is a technique used to determine concentration using a standard solution.

63. Potency

Potency refers to the strength or effectiveness of a substance.

64. Atom

An atom is the smallest unit of an element.

65. Molecule

A molecule consists of two or more atoms chemically bonded together.

66. Element

An element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom.

67. Compound

A compound is a substance formed by chemically combining two or more elements.

68. Mixture

A mixture contains two or more substances physically combined.

69. Solution

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of solute and solvent.

70. Solute

A solute is the substance that gets dissolved.

71. Solvent

A solvent is the substance that dissolves the solute.

72. Matter

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.

73. Mass

Mass is the amount of matter present in a body.

74. Volume

Volume is the space occupied by a substance.

75. Force

Force is a push or pull acting on an object.

76. Energy

Energy is the capacity to do work.

77. Work

Work is done when force causes displacement.

78. Power

Power is the rate at which work is done.

79. Velocity

Velocity is the speed of an object in a specific direction.

80. Acceleration

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.

81. Momentum

Momentum is the product of mass and velocity.

82. Gravity

Gravity is the force that attracts objects toward each other.

83. Friction

Friction is the force that opposes motion between surfaces.

84. Inertia

Inertia is the tendency of a body to resist changes in motion.

85. Reflection

Reflection is the bouncing back of light from a surface.

86. Refraction

Refraction is the bending of light when it enters another medium.

87. Wavelength

Wavelength is the distance between two successive wave crests.

88. Frequency

Frequency is the number of wave cycles occurring in one second.

89. Amplitude

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a wave from its mean position.

90. Ecosystem

An ecosystem consists of living organisms interacting with their environment.

91. Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants prepare food using sunlight.

92. Respiration

Respiration is the process of releasing energy from food.

93. Cell

A cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life.

94. DNA

DNA carries hereditary information in living organisms.

95. Gene

A gene is a segment of DNA responsible for a particular trait.

96. Mutation

A mutation is a change in the genetic material.

97. Evolution

Evolution is the gradual change in organisms over generations.

98. Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms in an area.

99. Biotechnology

Biotechnology involves the use of living organisms for useful purposes.

100. Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the study and application of materials at the nanoscale level.


These 100 important science definitions and terminologies form the foundation of scientific knowledge. Understanding these terms will help students perform better in school, college, competitive examinations, laboratory work, and everyday scientific discussions.

Bookmark this page and use it as your quick science glossary. We will continue to add detailed explanations, examples, applications, and interesting facts for each term in separate articles and provide their link to this page so you can deep dive about that science definition or scientific terminology. 

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