Basic Chemistry Flashcards
Atom
The smallest unit of matter that maintains the properties of an element
Element
Any substance that cannot be broken down to any other substance by chemical reactions
Compound
A substance consisting of two or more different elements combined in a fixed ratio
Molecule
Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
Isotope
- One of several atomic forms of an element
- Same number of protons
- Different number of neutrons
- Differ in atomic mass
Covalent Bond
A type of strong chemical bond in which two atoms share one or more pairs of valence electrons
Ionic Bond
A chemical bond resulting from the attraction between oppositely charged ions
Nonpolar Covalent Bond
A type of covalent bond in which electrons are shared equally between two atoms of similar electronegativity
Polar Covalent Bond
- A covalent bond between atoms that differ in electronegativity
- Shared electrons are pulled closer to the more electronegative atom, making it slightly negative and the other atom slightly positive
Structural Formula
- A chemical formula that shows the arrangement of atoms in a molecule or a polyatomic ion
- Each dash between a pair of atoms indicates a pair of shared electrons
Molecular Formula
- A chemical formula that shows the number and kinds of atoms in each molecule
- Does not show the arrangement of atoms
Hydrogen Bond
A type of weak chemical bond that is formed when the slightly positive hydrogen atom of a polar covalent bond in one molecule is attracted to the slightly negative atom of a polar covalent bond in another molecule (or other region of same molecule)
Reactant
A starting material in a chemical reaction
Product
A material resulting from a chemical reaction
Monomer
The subunit that serves as the building block of a polymer
