Vocab 1 - Chemical Reactions

Question 1

chemical formula

Answer 1

a symbolic representation of its chemical composition

Question 2

chemical symbol

Answer 2

a letter or pair of letters used to represent a chemical element

Question 3

chemical equation

Answer 3

• represents chemical change/chemical reaction
• a combination of chemical formulas, numbers and symbols that represents the change

Question 4

products

Answer 4

the end-result of the reaction and are written on the right-hand side of the equation

Question 5

reactants

Answer 5

starting materials and are written on the left-hand side of the equation

Question 6

coefficient

Answer 6

large numbers in front of each formula

Question 7

subscript

Answer 7

• a small-sized number on the bottom right of the symbol.
• It refers to the number of atoms of the element.

Question 8

ion

Answer 8

an atom or group of atoms that has an electric charge

Question 9

cation

Answer 9

ion with a positive charge

Question 10

anion

Answer 10

ion with a negative charge

Question 11

single replacement

Answer 11

a reaction in which one element replaces a similar element in a compound

Question 12

decomposition reaction

Answer 12

a reaction in which a compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances

Question 13

synthesis reaction

Answer 13

a chemical reaction where two reactants combine to create a new, more complex product

Question 14

double replacement reaction

Answer 14

those in which two ionic compounds exchange their ions

Question 15

combustion reaction

Answer 15

when a substance reacts with oxygen and releases a huge amount of energy in the form of light and heat

Question 16

net ionic equation

Answer 16

the chemical equation that shows only those elements, compounds, and ions that are directly involved in the chemical reaction

Question 17

spectator ions

Answer 17

one that does not participate in the chemical reaction; it is present both before and after the reaction takes place

Question 18

reduction

Answer 18

the process of an atom or compound gaining one or more electrons

Question 19

oxidation

Answer 19

A chemical reaction that takes place when a substance comes into contact with oxygen or another oxidizing substance

Question 20

precipitate

Answer 20

a solid formed by a change in a solution, often due to a chemical reaction or change in temperature that decreases solubility of a solid

Question 21

Law of Conservation of Matter

Answer 21

• during chemical & physical change matter & energy are neither created or destroyed, matter only changes form
• keeps equations balanced

Question 22

Oxidation-Reduction Reaction

Answer 22

any chemical reaction in which the oxidation number of a molecule, atom, or ion changes by gaining or losing an electron

Question 23

oxidation number

Answer 23

the total number of electrons that an atom either gains or loses in order to form a chemical bond with another atom