 | Term | Definition |
| |
Absolute Zero |
the temperture at which all molecular motion ceases. Equal to 0 K, -273 C, or -459 F |
| |
Acceleration |
change in velocity |
| |
Acid |
A substance that is able to donate H+ ions (protons) |
| |
Activation Energy |
the minimum energy needed for a reaction to occur |
| |
Active Site |
the specific site on an enzyme or catalystwhere reactions occur |
| |
Adhesion |
a binding force between two non-alike substances |
| |
Alkanes |
a carbon compound with only single carbon-carbon bonds |
| |
Alkenes |
a carbon compound with a carbon-carbon double bond |
| |
Alkynes |
a carbon compound with a carbon-carbon triple bond |
| |
Alpha Particle |
a radiation particel with two protons and two neutrons structurally identical to a helium nucleus |
| |
Anion |
a negatively charged ion |
| |
Anode |
the electrode where oxidation occurs |
| |
AMU |
abbreviation for Atomic Mass Unit |
| |
Atomic Number |
the number of protons in the nucleus of an aton |
| |
Avogadro's Number |
the number of molecules per mole of a substance. Equal to 6.02 x 10^23 molecules |
| |
Base |
a hydrogen ion acceptor; produces an excess of OH- ions in solution |
| |
Beta Particles |
radiation composed of electrons |
| |
Breeder Reactor |
theoretical nuclear reactor that produces more fissionable fuel than it consumes |
| |
Calorie |
a unit of energy equal to 4.18 Joules |
| |
Cathode |
the electrode at which reduction occurs |
| |
Capacitance |
charge holding ability |
| |
Cation |
a positively charged ion |
| |
Chiral |
a molecule that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image |
| |
Cohesive Forces |
attractive forces between like molecules |
| |
Critical Mass |
the smallest amount of fissionable material needed to sustain a chain reaction |
| |
Conduction |
the transfer of heat by contact |
| |
Convection |
the transfer of heat by circulation currents |
| |
Density |
the mass to volume ratio of a substance |
| |
Deuterium |
also known as heavy hydrogen. Deuterium contains one more neutron than hydrogen |
| |
Diffraction |
the spreading of light when it passes through a slit |
| |
Doppler Effect |
change in sound frequency due to object moving away from or towards an observer |
| |
Electrolyte |
a substance that produces ions in a solution |
| |
EMF |
electromotive force; electrical pressure measured in Volts |
| |
Endothermic |
a reaction in which heat is absorbed |
| |
Entropy |
the measure of disorder in a system |
| |
Exothermic |
a reaction in which heat is given off |
| |
Faraday |
a unit of charge equal to one mole of electrons |
| |
Fission |
the splitting of a large nucleus into two or more |
| |
Fusion |
the joining of two light nuclei to form a more massive one |
| |
Ground State |
the lowest energy and most stable state |
| |
Heat of Fusion |
the energy required to melt a solid |
| |
Heat of Vaporization |
the energy required to vaporize a liquid |
| |
Ion |
an electrically chared aton |
| |
Isomer |
compounds whose molecules are the same but have different structures |
| |
Isotope |
atoms of the same element with different number of neutrons, thus having different molecular weights |
| |
Kinetic Energy |
the energy of motion |
| |
Lewis Acid |
an electron pair acceptor |
| |
Lewis Base |
an electon pair donor |
| |
Mass Number |
the number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus |
| |
Meniscus |
the curved upper surface of a liquid column |
| |
Miscible |
liquids that mix with eact other in all proportions |
| |
Molarity |
concentration given by moles of substance per liter of solution |
| |
Mole |
unit equal to 6.02 x 10^23 molecules of a substance |
| |
Momentum |
the product of the mass and velocity of an object |
| |
Neutron |
electronically neutral particle a mass almost identical to that of a proton |
| |
Osmosis |
the net movement of a solvent towards an area of greater solute concentrations |
| |
Oxidation |
a process in which a substance loses one or more electrons; Oxidation is the opposite of reduction |
| |
Ozone |
a molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms |
| |
Photon |
a bundle of light particles |
| |
Polymer |
repeating units of molecules in a chain |
| |
Power |
the rate at which work is done |
| |
Radiation |
the transfer of heat by waves |
| |
Refraction |
the bending of light |
| |
Specific Gravity |
the density of an object relative to that of water |
| |
Superconductor |
a substance that undergoes a change at low temperatures that allows it to conduct electricity with zero resistance |
| |
Surface Tension |
the intermolecular cohesive attraction that causes a liquid to minimize it's surface area |
| |
Triple Point |
a temperature at which solid, liquid, and gas phases exist in equilibrium |
| |
Valence Electrons |
the outermost electrons of an atom used in bonding |
| |
Volatile |
the tendency to evaporate readily |
| |
Work |
the movement of an object against a force |
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace