Chemistry - High School

You'll be in your element when you review these terms related to chemistry. Learn about chemical reactions, atoms and molecules, phases of matter, and much more. This list is just the catalyst you need to improve your chemistry vocabulary.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. absolute temperature
    temperature measured on the absolute scale
  2. absolute zero
    the lowest temperature theoretically attainable
  3. absorption
    a process in which one substance permeates another
  4. accuracy
    the quality of being near to the true value
  5. acid
    a sour water-soluble compound with a pH of less than 7
  6. activation energy
    the energy that an atomic system must acquire before a process (such as an emission or reaction) can occur
  7. addition reaction
    a chemical reaction in which one molecule is added to another
  8. alcohol
    a volatile compound made by distillation
  9. alkali metal
    any of the monovalent metals of group I of the periodic table (lithium or sodium or potassium or rubidium or cesium or francium)
  10. alkaline
    relating to or containing an alkali
  11. alkaline-earth metal
    any of the bivalent metals of group II of the periodic table
  12. allotrope
    a structurally different form of an element
  13. alloy
    a mixture containing two or more metallic elements
  14. amorphous
    without real or apparent crystalline form
  15. anhydrous
    without water; especially without water of crystallization
  16. anion
    a particle with a negative electric charge
  17. aqueous solution
    a solution in water
  18. atom
    the smallest component of an element
  19. atomic mass
    the property of an atom that causes it to have weight
  20. atomic number
    quantity of protons in the nucleus of an atom of an element
  21. atomic theory
    a theory of the structure of the atom
  22. atomic weight
    (chemistry) the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units
  23. Avogadro's law
    the principle that equal volumes of all gases (given the same temperature and pressure) contain equal numbers of molecules
  24. Avogadro's number
    the number of molecules in a mole of a substance
  25. balance
    bring into equilibrium
  26. base
    a compound reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
  27. beaker
    a flatbottomed jar made of glass or plastic
  28. binary compound
    chemical compound composed of only two elements
  29. boil
    bring to the temperature at which a liquid changes to vapor
  30. boiling point
    the temperature at which a liquid boils at sea level
  31. Boyle's law
    the pressure of an ideal gas at constant temperature varies inversely with the volume
  32. brittle
    having little elasticity
  33. buffer
    (chemistry) an ionic compound that resists changes in its pH
  34. bunsen burner
    a gas burner used in laboratories
  35. buoyancy
    the tendency to float in water or other liquid
  36. calorimetry
    measurement of quantities of heat
  37. catalyst
    substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction
  38. cation
    a particle with a positive electric charge
  39. chain reaction
    a series of chemical reactions in which the product of one is a reactant in the next
  40. charge
    the quantity of unbalanced electricity in a body
  41. Charles's law
    (physics) the density of an ideal gas at constant pressure varies inversely with the temperature
  42. chemical bond
    an electrical force linking atoms
  43. chemical change
    process determined by substances' composition and structure
  44. chemical energy
    that part of the energy in a substance that can be released by a chemical reaction
  45. chemical formula
    a representation of a substance using symbols for its constituent elements
  46. chemical property
    a property used to characterize materials in reactions that change their identity
  47. chemical reaction
    a process in which substances are changed into others
  48. chemistry
    the science of matter
  49. chromatography
    a process used for separating mixtures by virtue of differences in absorbency
  50. coefficient
    a constant number that serves as a measure of some property
  51. cohesion
    the force that holds together molecules in a solid or liquid
  52. colloid
    a mixture with properties between those of a solution and fine suspension
  53. combustion
    a reaction of a substance with oxygen to give heat and light
  54. composition
    the way in which someone or something is put together
  55. compound
    a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements
  56. concentration
    the strength of a solution
  57. condensation
    process of changing from a gas to a liquid or solid state
  58. conductivity
    the property of transmitting heat, electricity, or sound
  59. conductor
    a substance that readily serves as a medium for transmission
  60. covalent bond
    a chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule
  61. crucible
    a vessel used for high temperature chemical reactions
  62. crystal
    a solid having a highly regular atomic structure
  63. crystalline
    consisting of or containing or of the nature of crystals
  64. decomposition reaction
    (chemistry) separation of a substance into two or more substances that may differ from each other and from the original substance
  65. density
    the amount per unit size
  66. deposition
    the natural process of laying something down
  67. desalination
    the removal of salt
  68. diatomic
    of or relating to a molecule made up of two atoms
  69. dilution
    a solution reduced in strength or concentration
  70. dissolve
    pass into a solution
  71. distillation
    purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors
  72. Dmitri Mendeleev
    Russian chemist who developed a periodic table of the chemical elements and predicted the discovery of several new elements (1834-1907)
  73. double bond
    a covalent bond in which two pairs of electrons are shared between two atoms
  74. double replacement reaction
    a chemical reaction between two compounds where the positive ion of one compound is exchanged with the positive ion of another compound
  75. ductile
    capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
  76. electrolysis
    (chemistry) a chemical decomposition reaction produced by passing an electric current through a solution containing ions
  77. electron
    an elementary particle with negative charge
  78. electronegativity
    (chemistry) the tendency of an atom or radical to attract electrons in the formation of an ionic bond
  79. element
    a substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances
  80. empirical formula
    a chemical formula showing the ratio of elements in a compound rather than the total number of atoms
  81. endothermic
    occurring or formed with absorption of heat
  82. endothermic reaction
    a chemical reaction accompanied by the absorption of heat
  83. energy
    any source of usable power
  84. entropy
    energy in a system no longer available for mechanical work
  85. enzyme
    a complex protein produced by cells that acts as a catalyst
  86. equilibrium
    a chemical reaction and its reverse proceed at equal rates
  87. evaporation
    the process of becoming a suspension of particles in the air
  88. exothermic
    occurring or formed with the release of heat
  89. exothermic reaction
    a chemical reaction accompanied by the evolution of heat
  90. family
    a collection of things that are similar in some way
  91. fermentation
    breaking down an organic substance, as sugar into alcohol
  92. first law of thermodynamics
    the fundamental principle of physics that the total energy of an isolated system is constant despite internal changes
  93. fission
    splitting a massive nucleus with the release of energy
  94. flammable
    easily ignited
  95. free energy
    (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
  96. freezing
    the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid
  97. freezing point
    the temperature below which a liquid turns into a solid
  98. fusion
    reaction in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei
  99. gas
    state of matter distinguished from solid and liquid states
  100. Gay-Lussac's law
    (physics) the density of an ideal gas at constant pressure varies inversely with the temperature
  101. group
    atoms bound together as a unit forming part of a molecule
  102. halogen
    any of five related nonmetallic elements (fluorine or chlorine or bromine or iodine or astatine) that are all monovalent and readily form negative ions
  103. heat
    a form of energy transferred by a difference in temperature
  104. heterogeneous
    consisting of elements not of the same kind or nature
  105. homogeneous
    all of the same or similar kind or nature
  106. hydrate
    any compound that contains water of crystallization
  107. hydrocarbon
    an organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen
  108. hydrogen bond
    a chemical bond consisting of a hydrogen atom between two electronegative atoms (e.g., oxygen or nitrogen) with one side be a covalent bond and the other being an ionic bond
  109. hypertonic
    having a higher osmotic pressure than a comparison solution
  110. hypotonic
    having a lower osmotic pressure than a comparison solution
  111. ideal gas
    a hypothetical gas with molecules of negligible size that exert no intermolecular forces
  112. immiscible
    (chemistry, physics) incapable of mixing
  113. indicator
    a substance that changes color to show something's presence
  114. inorganic compound
    any compound that does not contain carbon
  115. ion
    a particle that is electrically charged positive or negative
  116. ionic
    containing or involving electrically charged particles
  117. ionic bond
    a chemical bond between oppositely charged ions
  118. isomer
    a compound that exists in forms having different arrangements of atoms but the same molecular weight
  119. isotonic
    having the same or equal osmotic pressure
  120. isotope
    atom with same atomic number, different number of neutrons
  121. Kelvin
    British physicist who invented the Kelvin scale of temperature and pioneered undersea telegraphy (1824-1907)
  122. kinetic theory
    (physics) a theory that gases consist of small particles in random motion
  123. lattice
    an arrangement of points in a regular periodic pattern
  124. law of conservation of matter
    a fundamental principle of classical physics that matter cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system
  125. law of definite proportions
    (chemistry) law stating that every pure substance always contains the same elements combined in the same proportions by weight
  126. Le Chatelier's principle
    the principle that if any change is imposed on a system that is in equilibrium then the system tends to adjust to a new equilibrium counteracting the change
  127. liquid
    fluid matter having no fixed shape but a fixed volume
  128. litmus test
    a method of determining if a solution is acidic or basic
  129. luster
    the property of something that shines with reflected light
  130. malleable
    capable of being shaped or bent
  131. mass
    the property of a body that causes it to have weight
  132. mass number
    the sum of the number of neutrons and protons in an atomic nucleus
  133. matter
    that which has mass and occupies space
  134. melting point
    the temperature at which a solid turns into a liquid
  135. meniscus
    the curved upper surface of a liquid in a vertical tube
  136. metal
    a chemical element or alloy that is usually a shiny solid
  137. metallic bond
    a chemical bond in which electrons are shared over many nuclei and electronic conduction occurs
  138. metalloid
    a nonmetallic element that has some of the properties of metal
  139. miscible
    capable of being mixed, in chemistry
  140. mixture
    a substance consisting of substances blended together
  141. molarity
    concentration measured by molecular weight of a substance
  142. mole
    the molecular mass of a substance expressed in grams
  143. molecule
    the simplest structural unit of an element or compound
  144. monatomic
    of or relating to an element consisting of a single atom
  145. neutral
    having only a limited ability to react chemically
  146. neutralization reaction
    a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base interact with the formation of a salt; with strong acids and bases the essential reaction is the combination of hydrogen ions with hydroxyl ions to form water
  147. neutron
    a subatomic particle with zero charge
  148. noble gas
    any of the chemically inert gaseous elements of the helium group in the periodic table
  149. nonpolar
    not ionic
  150. nucleus
    the positively charged dense center of an atom
  151. orbit
    the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom
  152. orbital
    relating to the path of one body around another
  153. organic compound
    any compound of carbon and another element or a radical
  154. osmosis
    diffusion of molecules through a semipermeable membrane
  155. oxidation
    the process by which a substance combines with oxygen
  156. oxidation number
    the degree of oxidation of an atom or ion or molecule
  157. oxidation-reduction
    a reversible chemical reaction in which one reaction is an oxidation and the reverse is a reduction
  158. oxidize
    enter into a combination with oxygen
  159. periodic law
    (chemistry) the principle that chemical properties of the elements are periodic functions of their atomic numbers
  160. periodic table
    arrangement of chemical elements according to atomic number
  161. pH
    a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution
  162. phase
    a distinct state of matter in a system
  163. phase change
    a change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition
  164. pH scale
    a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution
  165. physical change
    a change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition
  166. physical property
    any property used to characterize matter and energy and their interactions
  167. plasma
    a fourth state of matter distinct from solid, liquid or gas
  168. polar
    having a pair of equal and opposite charges
  169. polyatomic
    of or relating to a molecule made up of more than two atoms
  170. polymer
    a naturally occurring or synthetic compound
  171. polymerization
    a chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer or polymeric compound
  172. precipitate
    a substance separated from a solution or suspension
  173. precision
    the quality of being exact
  174. product
    a chemical substance formed as a result of a reaction
  175. property
    a basic or essential attribute shared by members of a class
  176. proton
    a stable particle with positive charge
  177. radiation
    energy transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles
  178. radioisotope
    a radioactive isotope of an element
  179. reactant
    a substance that is altered during a chemical process
  180. reaction
    a process in which a substance is changed into another
  181. reagent
    a substance for use in chemical reactions
  182. redox
    a reversible chemical reaction in which one reaction is an oxidation and the reverse is a reduction
  183. rusting
    the formation of reddish-brown ferric oxides on iron by low-temperature oxidation in the presence of water
  184. salinity
    the relative proportion of salt in a solution
  185. saponification
    a chemical reaction in which an ester is heated with an alkali (especially the alkaline hydrolysis of a fat or oil to make soap)
  186. solid
    matter with definite shape at room temperature and pressure
  187. solubility
    the quality of being easily dissolved in liquid
  188. solute
    the dissolved matter in a homogenous liquid mixture
  189. solution
    a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances
  190. solvent
    a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances
  191. specific heat
    the heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance one degree centigrade
  192. state of matter
    (chemistry) the three traditional states of matter are solids (fixed shape and volume) and liquids (fixed volume and shaped by the container) and gases (filling the container)
  193. stoichiometry
    (chemistry) the relation between the quantities of substances that take part in a reaction or form a compound (typically a ratio of whole integers)
  194. STP
    standard temperature and pressure
  195. subatomic particle
    a body having finite mass and internal structure but negligible dimensions
  196. sublimation
    a change directly from the solid to the gaseous state
  197. subscript
    character printed slightly below and to the side of another
  198. substance
    a particular kind of matter with uniform properties
  199. surface tension
    phenomenon at a liquid's surface from intermolecular forces
  200. suspension
    a mixture in which fine particles are supported by buoyancy
  201. temperature
    the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment
  202. test tube
    glass tube closed at one end
  203. thermochemistry
    the branch of chemistry that studies the relation between chemical action and the amount of heat absorbed or generated
  204. thermodynamics
    physics concerned with heat and other forms of energy
  205. titration
    a measured amount of a solution of unknown concentration is added to a known volume of a second solution until the reaction between them is just complete; the concentration of the unknown solution (the titer) can then be calculated
  206. valence
    the capacity of something or someone to react with or affect others
  207. valence electron
    an electron in the outer shell of an atom which can combine with other atoms to form molecules
  208. vaporization
    the process of becoming a suspension of particles in the air
  209. viscosity
    resistance of a liquid to flowing
  210. volume
    the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
  211. weight
    the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
  212. yield
    an amount of a product
Created on Sun Feb 26 18:35:14 EST 2017 (updated Wed Apr 19 16:49:07 EDT 2017)

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