Glossary Exam #1 Flashcards
a substance that yields hydrogen or hydronium ions in aqueous solution.
Acids
an organic compound containing one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups.
Alcohols
an organic compound containing one or more –CHO groups.
Aldehyde
an organic compound containing nitrogen; any compounds formed from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by organic radicals. The general formula for primary amines is R-NH2.
Amines
the building blocks of proteins; a compound containing an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl (-COOH) group attached to an alpha carbon and a radical.
Amino acid
any compound that can act as both an acid and a base in solution. (Amino acid).
Amphoteric
chemicals used to keep the blood in the liquid state; chemical agents that retard the tendency of the blood to become more viscous by natural post mortem processes and/or prevent other adverse reactions between the blood and the other embalming chemicals.
Anticoagulants
the smallest particle of an element that has all the properties of the element.
Atom
a substance that yields hydroxide ions in aqueous solution.
Bases
that branch of chemistry dealing with compounds produced by living organisms.
Biochemistry
the rapid passage of liquid particles to the vapor state by forming bubbles through the action of heat. The term for the point of equilibrium between the liquid and gas states of matter and typically employed when the temperature is increasing.
Boiling
substances that in solution are capable of neutralizing, within limits, both acids and bases and thereby maintaining the original, or constant pH, of the solution.
Buffers
a change in which a new substance or substances are produced that have entirely different properties from the original substance because the chemical composition has changed.
Chemical changes
characteristics that can be observed when a substance is interacting with other substances resulting in a change of chemical composition.
Chemical properties
the branch of natural science that is concerned with the description and classification of matter, with the changes that matter undergoes, and with the energy associated with each of these changes.
Chemistry
a substance consisting of two or more atoms combined chemically in definite proportions by mass.
Compounds
the gradual decomposition of dead organic matter by the enzymes of aerobic bacteria.
Decay
the removal of water from a substance.
Dehydration
the disruption and breakdown of the secondary structure of a protein by heat or chemicals.
Denaturation
chemicals having the capability of displacing an unpleasant odor or of altering an unpleasant odor so that it is converted to a more pleasant one.
Deodorants
an organic compound containing two aldehyde (-CHO) radicals.
Dialdehyde
the movement of molecules or other particles in solution from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration until uniform concentration is reached.
Diffusion
a solution containing relatively small amount of solute.
Dilute solution
a natural or synthetic compound that is used to impart color to another material.
Dyes
a simple substance which cannot be decomposed by ordinary chemical means.
Elements
the study of those types of matter and changes in matter related to the disinfection and preservation of human remains.
Embalming chemistry
the fluids specifically designed for preservation and disinfection purposes.
Embalming fluids
a compound with the general formula RCOOR’ (where R is a hydrocarbon group or a hydrogen and R’ is a hydrocarbon group). It is formed from an alcohol and organic (or carboxylic) acid by removal of water (dehydration).
Ester
that amount of formaldehyde necessary to overcome any nitrogen residue and cause the body proteins to become coagulated.
Formaldehyde demand
a change of state of matter from a liquid to a solid by the loss of heat. The term for the point of equilibrium between the solid and liquid states and typically employed when the temperature is decreasing.
Freezing
a state of matter in which the atoms or molecules move about in almost complete freedom from one another.
Gases
the condition of water that results from dissolved minerals and metallic ions such as calcium and magnesium.
Hardness of water
chemicals that increase the capability of embalmed tissues to retain moisture.
Humectants
a compound in which there is a chemical union between water and certain substances when they crystallize.
Hydrates
a chemical reaction in which a substance is broken down or dissociated by water; a reaction between a salt and water to yield an acid and a base of unequal strengths.
Hydrolysis
a solution having a greater concentration of dissolved solute than the solution to which it is compared.
Hypertonic solution
a solution having a lesser concentration of dissolved solute than the solution to which it is compared.
Hypotonic solution
the strength of embalming fluids indicated by the number of grams of pure formaldehyde gas dissolved in 100 ml of solution.
Index
that branch of chemistry that studies the properties and reactions of elements, excluding organic or certain carbon-containing compounds.
Inorganic chemistry
an atomic or molecular species with a positive (cation) or negative (anion) electrical charge; an atom of an element or a group of atoms acting as one unit that has lost or gained an electron or electrons and exhibits a charge.
Ion
a solution having an equal concentration of dissolved solute as the solution to which it is compared.
Isotonic solution
any class of organic compounds containing the carbonyl group * (C=O) group whose carbon atom is joined to two other carbon atoms; the carbonyl group occurs within the carbon chain.
Ketones
the amount of a poison (or radiation) that will kill 50% of the group to which it has been administered.
Lethal dose 50% (LD50)
a substance that flows readily but does not tend to expand indefinitely.
Liquids
anything that has mass and occupies space.
Matter
the change in state from a solid to a liquid.
Melting
an element marked by luster, malleability, ductility, and conductivity of electricity and heat.
Metal
a combination of two or more substances not chemically united and NOT in definite proportion by mass.
Mixtures
the smallest unit of a compound which can exist alone; an aggregation of atoms, specifically a chemical of two or more atoms which for a specific chemical substance.
Molecule
the reaction of an acid and a base to produce salt and water.
Neutralization
any element that is not a metal. Tend to form negative ions.
Nonmetal
a common name for a triacylglycerol that is a liquid at room temperature and contains a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids.
Oils
that branch of chemistry that deals with certain carbon-containing compounds.
Organic chemistry
a method of expressing low concentrations; 1 ppm is equivalent to 1 milligram per liter.
Parts per million (ppm)
a bond formed from a dehydration reaction between the amino group on one amino acid with the carboxyl (organic acid) group on the other amino acid.
Peptide bond
the tabular arrangement of the elements in order of increasing atomic number. This arrangement allows the columns of elements to represent the periodic recurrence of similar properties.
Periodic table
the measure of hydrogen ion concentration of a solution.
pH
a change in the form or state of matter without any change in chemical composition.
Physical changes
properties of a substance that are observed without a change in chemical composition, which include color, odor, taste, solubility, density, hardness, melting point, and boiling point.
Physical properties
characteristics by which substances may be identified.
Properties
a biological component that is a polymer of many amino acids.
Protein
surface-active agents that are generally used for disinfection of skin, oral and nasal cavities, as well as instruments.
Quaternary ammonium compound
any group of substances that result from the reaction between acids and bases other than water.
Salts
a solution containing all of the solute the solvent is able to hold at a certain temperature and pressure.
Saturated solution
the condensed state of matter having a definite shape and volume.
Solids
the measure of how well two substances mix.
Solubility
a substance dissolved in a solvent to form a solution; the component of a solution present in a lesser amount.
Solute
a homogeneous mixture of one or more substances (solutes) dissolved in a sufficient quantity of solvent.
Solution
the process of dissolving.
Solvation
a substance that does the dissolving in a solution; the component of a solution present in a greater amount.
Solvent
a physical property of matter (solid, liquid, or gas); Condition of phase in the physical composition of a substance at a given temperature and pressure
State of matter
the force that acts on the surface of a liquid and tends to minimize surface area.
Surface tension
chemicals that will reduce the molecular cohesion of a liquid and thereby enable it to flow through smaller apertures.
Surfactants (surface tension reducers/wetting agents/penetrating agents)
a mixture of a solute and a solvent in which the size of the solute particles is greater than 100 nanometers. Particles of solute do not pass through filters or membranes.
Suspension
the study of those physical and chemical changes in the human body that are caused by the process of death.
Thanatochemistry
a solution containing less of the solute than can be held in solution by the solvent.
Unsaturated solution
the neutralization product of formaldehyde by ammonia – C6H12N4.
Urotropin
the physical change from a liquid to a gas.
Vaporization
liquids that serve as solvents for the numerous ingredients incorporated in embalming solutions. Generally, water and sometimes alcohol.
Vehicles
the resistance that a liquid exhibits to the flow of one layer over another arising from the molecular attraction between the molecules of a liquid.
Viscosity
