Glossary of chemistry terms

Aldehyde general structure

Atom-struc

Carboxylic-acid

Zwitterion-Alanine

Explosions

Covalent bond hydrogen

Glossary of Chemistry Terms is a comprehensive list that includes definitions and explanations of key terms used in the field of chemistry. This glossary serves as a fundamental resource for students, professionals, and enthusiasts who are involved in the study or practice of chemistry. It encompasses a wide range of terms from basic concepts to more advanced topics, providing insights into the vast and diverse area of chemical science.

A

• Atom - The basic unit of a chemical element. Atoms are made up of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons in electron shells.
• Alkali Metal - A group of elements in group 1 of the periodic table, known for their highly reactive properties, especially with water.
• Acid - A substance that donates hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution and can neutralize bases. Acids have a pH less than 7.

B

• Base - A substance that accepts hydrogen ions (H+) and can neutralize acids. Bases have a pH greater than 7.
• Boiling Point - The temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals the external pressure, causing it to turn into gas.
• Buffer - A solution that resists changes in pH when acid or alkali is added, typically by including a weak acid and its conjugate base.

C

• Catalyst - A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change.
• Covalent Bond - A chemical bond formed by the sharing of one or more pairs of electrons between atoms.
• Compound - A substance formed when two or more chemical elements are chemically bonded together.

D

• Distillation - A process of separating the components from a liquid mixture by selective boiling and condensation.
• Dipole - A pair of equal and oppositely charged or magnetized poles separated by a distance.
• Dissociation - The process in which molecules (or ionic compounds such as salts, or complexes) split into smaller particles such as atoms, ions, or radicals, usually in a reversible manner.

E

• Electrolysis - A technique that uses a direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction.
• Element - A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Elements consist of atoms with the same number of protons.
• Equilibrium - The state in which both reactants and products are present in concentrations which have no further tendency to change with time.

F

• Filtration - A process used to separate solids from liquids or gases using a filter medium that allows the fluid to pass but not the solid.

G

• Gas - One of the four fundamental states of matter, with no fixed shape or volume and is compressible.

H

• Halogen - Elements found in group 17 of the periodic table, known for their reactivity and their ability to form salts with metals.
• Hydrocarbon - Organic compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon.

I

• Ion - An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
• Isotope - Variants of a particular chemical element which differ in neutron number, and consequently in nucleon number.

K

• Kinetics - The study of the rate at which chemical processes occur.

L

• Lewis Structure - Diagrams that show the bonding between atoms of a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons that may exist.

M

• Molarity - A concentration unit of a solution expressed as moles of solute divided by liters of solution.

N

• Nucleophile - A chemical species that donates an electron pair to an electrophile to form a chemical bond in relation to a reaction.

O

• Oxidation - The process or result of oxidizing or being oxidized, which involves the loss of electrons.

P

• pH - A scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution.
• Polymer - Large molecules composed of many repeated subunits.

R

• Reduction - A chemical reaction that involves the gaining of electrons.

S

• Solvent - A substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution.
• Sublimation - The transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing through the liquid state.

T

• Titration - A technique where a solution of known concentration is used to determine the concentration of an unknown solution.

V

• Valence Electrons - The electrons in the outer shell of an atom that are involved in forming bonds to adjacent atoms.

Z

• Zwitterion - A molecule or ion having separate positively and negatively charged groups.

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