Chemistry Form 4 Definition List

1. Chemistry the study of the composition, structure, properties and interactions

of matter.
2. Scientific method a systematic approach used by scientists to investigate a
phenomenon.
3. Matter anything that occupies space and has mass.
4. Element a substance consists of one type of atom.
5. Compound a substance consists two or more elements that are chemically
bonded(molecule or ions).
6. Atom smallest particle of an element that can participate in a chemical reaction.
7. Molecule a group of two or more atoms which are chemically bonded together.
8. Ion a positively charged or negatively charged particle.
9. Melting point the temperature at which a solid changes into a liquid at a
particular pressure.
10. Freezing point the temperature at which a liquid changes into a solid at a
particular pressure.
11. Boiling point - is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals
the external pressure surrounding the liquid.
12. Proton number of an element is the number of protons in its atom.
13. Nucleon number(mass number) of an element is the total number of protons and
neutrons in its atom.
14. Isotopes atoms of the same element with same proton number but different
nucleon numbers.
15. Valence electrons electrons found in the outermost occupied shell of an atom.
16. Relative atomic mass of an element = the average mass of one atom of an
element when compared with

of the mass of one carbon-12 atom.

17. Relative molecular mass of an element = the average mass of one atom of an
molecule when compared with

of the mass of one carbon-12 atom.

18. Molar volume the volume occupied by one mole of the gas.
19. Molar mass of a substance the mass of 1 mol of the substance with the unit
grams per mol or
-

20. Chemical formula a representation of a chemical substance using letters
for atoms and subscript numbers to show the numbers of each type of atoms
that are present in the substance.
21. Molecular formula of a compound shows the actual number of atoms of each
element that are present in a molecule of the compound.
( )
22. Empirical formula of a compound shows the simplest whole number ratio of atoms
of each element in the compound
23. Mole amount of substance that contains as many particles as the number of
atoms inexactly 12 g of carbon-12 the symbol of mole is mol.
24. One mole Avogadro constant 6.02 x 10
23

25. Chemical equation a shorthand description of a chemical reaction.
26. Group (Periodic Table) vertical columns of element (similar chemical properties).
27. Periods (Periodic Table) horizontal rows of element.
28. Inert chemically unreactive.
29. Anion an atom that accepts electron to form a negative ion.
30. Cation an atom that donates electron to form a positive ion.
31. Ionic bond bond formed through the transfer of electrons between atoms
of metal and non-metal to achieve the stable octet electron arrangement.
32. Ionic compound consist of positive ions and negative ions which are held
by strong electrostatic forces of attraction.
33. Covalent bond bond formed through the sharing of non-metal electrons to
achieve the stable duplet or octet electron arrangement.
34. Covalent compound (also simple molecular structure) consists of neutral
molecules which are held by weak intermolecular forces (Van der Waals).
35. Electrolytes substances that can conduct electricity when they are in molten
state or aqueous solution and undergo chemical changes.
36. Non-electrolytes substances that cannot conduct electricity either in molten
state or aqueous solution.
37. Electrolysis a process whereby compounds in molten or aqueous state are broken
down into their constituent elements by passing electricity through them.
38. Voltaic cell consists of two different metals immersed into an electrolyte and
chemical energy is converted to electrical energy in the cell.
39. Alkali (base) - chemical substance which ionises in water to produce hydroxide ions,
OH
-
.
40. Acid chemical substance which ionises in water to produce hydrogen ions,
H
+
or hydroxonium ions, H
3
O
+
.
41. Basicity the number of ionisable hydrogen atoms per molecule of an acid.
42. pH degree of acidity/alkalinity of a solution. Scale ranges from 0 to 14.
43. pH value measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, H
+
.
44. pH scale is used to indicate the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a
solution and consists of pH values that range from 0 to 14.
45. Strong alkali ionises (dissociates) completely in water to
form hydroxide ions, OH
-
of high concentration.
46. Weak alkali ionises (dissociates) partially in water to form hydroxide ions,
OH
-
of low concentration.
47. Strong acid ionises (dissociates) completely in water to form hydrogen ions,
H
+
of high concentration.
48. Weak acid ionises (dissociates) partially in water to form hydrogen ions, H
+
of
low concentration.
49. Concentration of a solution the quantity of solutes in a given volume of
solution, which is usually 1

.
50. Molarity the number of moles of solute that are present in 1

of
solution.
51. Standard solution a solution in which its concentration Is accurately known.
52. Neutralisation the reaction of an acid and a base to form salt and water,

53. End point is a point in titration where the indicator changes colour.
54. Salt is a compound formed when the hydrogen ion, H
+
from an acid is
replaced by a metal ion or ammonium ion, NH
4
+

55. Quantitative analysis a chemical technique used to determine the substance that
are present in a mixture but not their quantities.
56. Polymer long chain molecules made up by monomer (repeating unit).