Glossary - B

Question 1

Backwards Reaction

Answer 1

The conversion of products into reactants in an equilibrium.

Question 2

Basic Oxide

Answer 2

An ionic oxide, usually an oxide of a metal, that reacts with acids to form a salt and water; some basic oxides react with water to form alkaline or basic solutions.

Question 3

Boiling

Answer 3

The change of a liquid into a gas
at constant temperature; occurs when the vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the external pressure exerted on the liquid – it is characterized by the appearance of bubbles of vapour throughout the liquid which break through the surface of the liquid.

Question 4

Boiling Point

Answer 4

The temperature at which
a liquid is converted to a gas at the same temperature; a liquid boils when the vapour pressure of the liquid equals the surrounding pressure.

Question 5

Bomb Colorimeter

Answer 5

Device used to measure energy changes (at constant volume) that occur when substances, for example, alcohols or hydrocarbons, are burnt in excess oxygen in a sealed container.

Question 6

Bond Angle

Answer 6

An angle formed by the location of three atoms or two covalent bonds in space, used to describe the shapes of molecules; the angle ABC where atoms A and C are bonded to atom B.

Question 7

Bond Enthalpy

Answer 7

The amount of energy (in kilojoules) required to break one mole of a particular covalent bond in the gaseous state into gaseous atoms (under standard thermodynamic conditions): a measure of the strength of the bond.

Question 8

Boyle’s Law

Answer 8

The product of pressure and volume (for a fixed mass of ideal gas at constant temperature) is a constant.