Copy of `Cliffs Notes - Science terms`

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Cliffs Notes - Science terms Category: Sciences > Chemistry Date & country: 04/01/2014, USA Words: 147

nonmetals
the elements in the upper right part of the periodic table, and also hydrogen.

nucleon
a proton or neutron found in an atomic nucleus.

nucleus
the core of an atom, containing protons and neutrons.

organic
refers to compounds based on carbon.

organic chemistry
an area of chemistry dealing principally with the chemistry of carbon.

orbital
a component of a subshell occupied by up to 2 electrons.

oxidation
the loss of electrons by a species.

oxidation number
a signed integer representing the real or hypothetical charge on an atom.

oxide
a compound of oxygen and another element.

period
a horizontal row of elements in the periodic table.

periodic table display
of the elements in order of atomic number with similar elements falling into columns.

phase
a substance with uniform composition and definite physical state.

pH
a number describing the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. Equals -log[H⁺].

polar bond
a bond with both ionic and covalent characteristics.

polyprotic
refers to an acid with several hydrogens that can ionize.

proton
a heavy subatomic particle with a positive charge; found in an atomic nucleus.

precipitate
a solid that separates from solution.

product
a substance on the right side of a chemical reaction.

rare earths
the elements from cerium to lutetium; lanthanides.

radioactivity
the emission of subatomic particles from a nucleus.

reduction
the gain of electrons by a species.

redox
refers to a reaction in which simultaneous reduction and oxidation occur.

reactant
a substance on the left side of a chemical reaction.

saturated
describes a solution that holds as much solute as possible.

salt
a solid compound composed of both metallic and nonmetallic elements, often as ions.

shell
a set of electron orbitals with the same principal quantum number.

solvent
the host substance of dominant abundance in a solution.

solute
the substance that is dissolved in a solution.

solution
a homogeneous mixture consisting of a solvent and one or more solutes.

solubility
the upper limit of concentration of a solute.

solubility product
the constant obtained by multiplying the ion concentrations in a saturated solution.

solid
a state of matter in which the molecules are touching and possessing rigid shape and is not compressible.

specific heat capacity
the amount of heat required to raise 1 gram of a substance 1 degree Celsius.

strong electrolyte
an acid, base, or salt that dissociates almost completely to ions in aqueous solution.

structural formula
depicts the bonding of atoms in a molecule.

stoichiometric
refers to compounds or reactions in which the components are in fixed, whole-number ratios.

STP
See standard temperature and pressure.

standard temperature and pressure
0

states of matter
solid, liquid, and gas.

subshell
a set of electron orbitals with the same principal and second quantum number; for example, 2p, 3s, and so on.

sublimation
the transformation of a solid directly to a gas without an intervening liquid state.

symbol
an abbreviation for the name of an element; for example, C for carbon.

triple point
a point in a phase diagram where the three states of matter are in equilibrium.

transition metals
the three rows of elements in the middle of the periodic table, from scandium to mercury.

valence
a signed integer describing the combining power of an atom.

valence electrons
the outermost shell of electrons in an atom or ion.

weak electrolyte
an acid, base, or salt that dissociates only slightly to form ions in solution.