A2 Definitions Flashcards
Acid-base Pair
A pair of two species that transform into each other by gain or loss of a proton.
Activation Energy
The minimum energy required to start a reaction by the breaking of bonds.
Addition Polymer
A very long molecular chain, formed by repeated addition reactions of many unsaturated alkene molecules (monomers).
Addition Reaction
A reaction in which a reactant is added to an unsaturated molecule to make a saturated molecule.
Adsorption
The process by which a solid holds molecules of a gas or liquid or solute a thin film on the surface of a solid or, more rarely, a liquid.
Alicyclic Hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in a ring structure.
Aliphatic Hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in straight or branched chains.
Alkali
A type of base that dissolves in water to form hydroxide, OH- (aq), ions.
Alkanes
The homologous series with the general formula: CnH2n+2.
Alkyl Group
An alkane with a hydrogen atom removed, such as methyl, ethyl; any alkyl group is often shown as ‘R’.
Amount of Substance
The quantity whose unit is the mole. Chemists use ‘amount of substance’ as a means of counting atoms.
Anhydrous
A substance that contains no water molecules.
Anion
A negatively charged ion.
Atom Economy
molecular mass of the desired product/
sum of molecular masses of all products
Atomic (Proton) Number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
