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What properties distinguish metals from nonmetals?

Metals exist as solids at room temperature, with the exception of mercury. Mercury is a liquid at room temperature. Metals are excellent conductors of both heat and electricity because of their low electronegativity. This term refers to the tendency of the atoms of any given element to gain electrons in chemical reactions. Valence, or outer, electrons of metals transfer during chemical reactions more easily than do those of nonmetals. It is more likely for metals to engage in ionic bonds rather than covalent ones.\nIn addition to being electrically and thermally conductive, metals are also duc..

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What is universal gravitation?

Newton’s law of universal gravitation demonstrates why the planets orbit the sun, rather than vice versa. The sun has a far greater mass than the planets do, so it pulls them into orbit. Because the law also demonstrates that gravitational pull decreases with increasing distance, it explains why Pluto travels around the sun much slower than the Earth does.\nNewton did not discover gravity. He expanded upon the work of Kepler and devised the equation that explained gravity’s effects. However, modern physicists know that Newton's work was incomplete. While Newton's equations work f..

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What is a normal GGT level?

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, or GGT, measures functioning of the liver and bile ducts. If GGT is too high, it can be due to diabetes, alcohol abuse, lung or pancreas disease, or liver problems. Heart disease and hepatitis are also culprits. Testing for GGT involves a simple blood test where a needle is inserted into a vein and blood is removed and tested for GGT levels. Some drugs can alter the test results, such as phenobarbital and birth control tablets.

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What would happen if a cell did not have a nucleus?

Molecular Expressions explains that simple, one-celled organisms, or prokaryotes, such as bacteria, do not have a nucleus. Instead, their genetic material is dispersed throughout the cell. Eukaryotes, on the other hand, require a greater degree of cellular organization because they perform more complicated functions. These functions include cell reproduction, growth, protein synthesis and intermediary metabolism. A membrane separates the nucleus' contents, which include strings of genetic material called DNA, from the rest of the cell. Each nucleus within a human cell contains nearly 6 fe..

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How do fungi obtain energy?

Fungi absorb nutrients by growing through the substrate, the organic material on which they are living. They do this by extending hyphae, the tubular structures that enclose the cytoplasm, into the organic material. Numerous hyphae slowly work through the organic material and secrete digestive enzymes. This process helps to break down the substrate, which makes it easier for the fungi to absorb the substrate’s nutrients. The hyphae extend themselves over a large area of the substrate to maximize contact with the substrate. Creating intimate contact with the substrate makes the nutrient absor..

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What are the names of the outer planets?

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are considered outer planets because their orbits are beyond the asteroid belt that separates Jupiter from Mars.\nThe outer planets are made largely of hydrogen and helium with additions of methane, ammonia and other compounds. Along with the Sun, Jupiter takes up about 99 percent of the total mass of the Solar System. It is so large that astronomers believe that it could have been a star if it had been more massive.\nAll of the outer planets have rings, but Saturn is famous for its complex and highly visible rings. The rings of the other planets are faint.\..

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What are some of the common pieces of chemistry laboratory equipment?

Safety equipment includes goggles, gloves and aprons. These should be worn at all times when dealing with chemicals. Eyewear protects the person's eyes against splashing or exploding glassware. Aprons provide protection to the wearer's clothing against spills.\nChemical containers include beakers, test tubes, Erlenmeyer flasks and graduated cylinders, among others. Each of these is intended for a specific purpose. Graduated cylinders, for example, have volume markings to allow accurate mixing of a solution. An Erlenmeyer flask has a flat, wide bottom and a narrow mouth to allow stabl..

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What animals are native to Madagascar?

There are actually more than 90 lemur species in Madagascar, in addition to 283 types of birds, 346 reptiles, 200 amphibians, 30 bats and 12,000 vascular plant species. One of the smallest primates on Madagascar is the tiny tot, which is a gray mouse lemur. It is just 4.7 to 5.5 inches in length with a 5.1 to 5.7-inch long tail. The red ruffed lemur is one of the biggest primates on the island at 20 inches in length with a 24-inch tail.\nThe fossa is a carnivorous mammal that looks similar to a cat and is in the mongoose family. It is often compared to cougars and other large cats as the bigge..

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What could a low white blood cell count indicate?

Leukopenia is a medical term for having a decreased amount of leukocytes or white blood cells, reports Healthgrades. Some patients have a lower white blood cell count than the average person, and the usual range of white blood cell count also varies by gender and age. The importance of having a low white blood cell count depends on a patient's overall nutrition, medical history and the underlying condition he has. Many prescription drugs, including those used in chemotherapy, can disrupt the normal production of white blood cells.\nNeutropenia, or having a decreased amount of neutrophils,..

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Why can't you print an Islamic calendar out in advance?

This means that factors such as cloudy weather and a person's exact location on Earth will have an impact on when the month is said to start. People who follow this calendar can either defer to official sources or use their own observation to determine the start of a new month.

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