Chem Vocab: Base to Crystal Flashcards
(17 cards)
base
A base is a compound that produces OH- ions or electrons in water or accepts protons. An example of a common base is sodium hydroxide, NaOH.
beta particle
A beta particle is an electron, although the term is used when the electron is emitted in radioactive decay.
binary compound
A binary compound is one made up of two elements.
binding energy
Binding energy is the energy that holds protons and neutrons together in the atomic nucleus.
bond energy
Bond energy is the amount of energy required to break one mole of chemical bonds.
bond length
Bond length is the average distance between the nuclei of two atoms that share a bond.
buffer
A liquid that resists change in pH when an acid or base is added. A buffer consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base. An example of a buffer is acetic acid and sodium acetate.
calorimetry
Calorimetry is the study of heat flow. Calorimetry may be used to find the heat of the reaction of two compounds or the heat of combustion of a compound, for example.
carboxylic acid
A carboxylic acid is an organic molecule containing a -COOH group. An example of a carboxylic acid is acetic acid.
catalyst
A catalyst is a substance that lowers the activation energy of a reaction or speeds it up without being consumed by the reaction. Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts for biochemical reactions.
cathode
A cathode is an electrode that gains electrons or is reduced. In other words, it is where reduction occurs in an electrochemical cell.
chemical equation
A chemical equation is a description of a chemical reaction, including what reacts, what is produced, and which direction(s) the reaction proceeds.
chemical property
A chemical property is a property that can only be observed when a chemical change occurs. Flammability is an example of a chemical property since you can’t measure how flammable a substance is without igniting it (making/breaking chemical bonds).
covalent bond
A covalent bond is a chemical bond formed when two atoms share two electrons.
critical mass
Critical mass is the minimum quantity of radioactive material needed to cause a nuclear chain reaction.
critical point
The critical point is the endpoint of the liquid-vapor line in a phase diagram, past which a supercritical liquid forms. At the critical point, the liquid and vapor phases become indistinguishable from one another.
crystal
A crystal is an ordered, repeating three-dimensional pattern of ions, atoms, or molecules. Most crystals are ionic solids, although other forms of crystals exist.
