Glossary Flashcards
Acid
A substance that produces hydrogen ions when dissolved in water
Addition Polymerisation
The reaction between many small, unsaturated molecules (monomers) to form one large molecule (a polymer) and nothing else
Alcohol
A compound containing an -OH group
Alkali
A soluble base that produces hydroxide ions (OH^-) when dissolved in water
Alkanes
A family of hydrocarbons where all the members are saturated and have the general formula CnH2n
Alkenes
A family of hydrocarbons where all the members are unsaturated, they contain one carbon-to-carbon double bond and have the general formula CnH2n
Alpha
A charged particle consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons emitted by some radioisotopes. It is identical to a helium nucleus and is represented as 4/2He
Atom
The smallest quantity of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction
Atomic Lattice
A large three-dimensional arrangement of atoms held together by covalent bonds
Atomic number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of an element
Base
A substance that will neutralise an acid
Battery
A series of chemical cells joined together (often the words cell and battery are used interchangeably)
Beta
Charged particle consisting of a single electron emitted from the nucleus of some radioisotopes
Biodegradable
Able to ro away by natural biological processes
Burette
A graduated piece of apparatus used to measure accurately the volume of liquid or solution dispensed during an experiment
Calorimeter
Equipment used to measure the energy released in a chemical reaction
Carboxylic Acid
An acidic compound that contains the carboxyl group
Catalyst
A substance that will speed up a chemical reaction but is not used up during the process
Cell
In a chemical cell chemical energy is converted into electrical energy
Ceramic
A compound of a metal and non-metal that has gained certain properties by being heated and then cooled
Compound
A substance made up of two or more elements chemically joined
Concentration
A measure of how much solute is dissolved in a solvent, measured in Mol/L
Condensation Polymerisation
A reaction in which many small monometer molecules join to form one large polymer molecule with water or some other small molecule, formed at the same time
Condensation Reaction
One in which two or more molecules join to produce a single larger molecule with water or another small molecules produced at the same time
Covalent Bond
A shared pair of electrons between two non-metal atoms
Covalent Network
A giant network of non-metal atoms held together by covalent bonds
Cycloalkanes
A family of hydrocarbons where all the members are saturated and have the general formula CnH2n
Dilution
Addition of more solvent to a solution to decrease its concentration
Dissociation
A process in which compounds separate into oppositely charged ions
Electrochemical Series (ECS)
A list of metals (and hydrogen) in order of their ability to lose electrons and form ion in solution
Electrolyte
A compound that conducts owing to the movement of ions either when dissolved in water or melted
Electron
A negatively charged particle with a relative mass of zero, which orbits the nucleus of an atom
Element
A substance that consists of atoms with the same number of protons in their nuclei
Endothermic Reaction
A reaction in which energy is taken in from the surroundings
Enzyme
Biological catalysts
Ester
A fruity smelling compound used in fragrances flavourings and as a solvent. It is formed by reacting an alcohol with a carboxylic acid
Exothermic Reaction
A reaction in which energy is realised to the surroundings
Feedstock
A substance obtained from a raw material which is then used to manufacture another substance
Gamma
High frequency, and high energy, electromagnetic radiation emitted by radioactive substances
Group Ion
A charged particle that contains more than one type of atom eg. permanganate
Half-Life
The time in which the activity of a radioisotope decays by half, or in which half of its atoms disintegrate
Homologous Series
A family of compounds with the same general formula and similar chemical properties that show a gradual change in physical properties. The alkanes are an example of a homologous series
Hydration
An addition reaction where water is added across a double bond
Hydrogenation
An addition reaction where hydrogen is added across a double bond
Indicator
A substance whose colour changes depending on pH
Ion
A charged particle
Ion-electron Equation
Equation that shows either the loss of electrons (oxidation) or the gain of electrons (reduction)
Ionic Bond
The electrostatic force of attraction between positive ions and negative ions
Ionic Lattice
A large arrangement of ions held together by ionic bonds
Isomers
Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulae
Isotopes
Atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers
Macroscopic
Large enough to be seen or examined by the unaided eye
Malleable
A physical property of metals. A malleable material can be shaped by hammering or rolling
Mass Number
Equal to the number of protons plus neutrons in an atom or ion
Metallic Bonding
Each atom in the metal element loses its outer electrons to form positive ions. These ions pack together in a regular crystalline arrangement and the free (delocalised) electrons move freely through the structure. The electrostatic attraction of the positive ions for the delocalised electrons binds the ions together and is called metallic bonding
Mole
The relative atomic mass of an element expressed in grams (twice the RAM for diatomic elements), the relative formula mass of a compound expressed in grams
Molecule
Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
Molten
Describes a liquid formed by melting a solid
Monomers
Relatively small molecules that can join together to produce a very large molecule (a polymer) by a process called polymerisation
Neutralisation
A reaction in which the pH moves towards 7
Neutron
A neutral particle with a relative mass of 1 found in the nucleus of an atom
Nuclear Fission
Splitting nuclei by bombarding them with slow-moving neutrons
Nuclear Fusion
Light nuclei combining to form heavier nuclei and producing a lot of energy
Nucleus
The positively charged centre of an atom which contains the neutron and protons
Oxidation Reaction
One in which electrons are lost or oxygen is gained
pH
A measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is
Phenyl Group
A group of carbon and hydrogen atoms formula C6H5
Pickling
A method used to keep food from spoiling. It involves storing the food in vinegar, which contains ethnoic acid, to stop bacteria and fungi growing
Piezoelectric
Crystals that acquire an electrical charge when twisted, distorted, compressed or put under any mechanical stress are said to be Piezoelectric
Pipette
A piece of apparatus used to measure a specific volume of liquid or solution
Polymer
A very large molecule formed by the joining together of many smaller molecules (monomers)
Proton
A positively charged particle with a relative mass of 1 found in the nucleus of an atom
Radioisotopes
Atoms that emit radiation because their nuclei are unstable. Alpha, Beta, Gamma may be emitted
Rate
A measure of how quickly a chemical reaction is prgressing
Reducing Agent
A substance that gives electrons away to another substance or that removes oxygen from it
Reduction
A process in which electrons are gained or oxygen is lost
Relative Atomic Mass (RAM)
The average mass of the isotopes of an element
Relative Formula Mass (RFM)
The sum of the relative atomic masses of all the elements in a compound
Saturated
A compound that cannot have any more atoms added to it. All the bonds are single
Spectator ion
An ion that is present as both a reactant and a product in a chemical equation. Spectator ions take no part in the reaction
Systematic Name
The chemical name for a compound, obtained by following a set of prescribed rules
Tetrahedral
A tetrahedral molecule has a central atom bonded to four other atoms that are positioned at the corners of a regular tetrahedron
Thermoplastic
A plastic that softens on heating and can be reshaped
Titration
An experiment that will accurately measure the volume of liquid or solution required for a particular reaction
Unsaturated
A compound that can have more atoms added to it. It will contain at least one carbon-to-carbon double bond
Valency
The number of bonds that an atom or ion can form
Variable
A factor that can be changed in a chemical reaction that will affect the rate
