Genchem(1)

Vocabulary flashcards covering atomic structure, states of matter, physical and chemical properties and changes, separation techniques, consumer product categories, measurement errors, scientific notation, and fundamental physical quantities.

Atoms

The smallest unit of matter that cannot be broken down chemically.

Molecules

Groups of two or more chemically bounded atoms.

Ions

Particles that have gained or lost one or more of their valence electrons.

Solid

A state of matter that is tightly packed with strong intermolecular forces.

Liquid

A state of matter where particles are closely packed due to weak intermolecular forces.

Gases

A state of matter where distances are large, if intermolecular forces are eligible.

Physical Properties

Properties independent of chemical composition that can be measured, such as density, color, boundness, and melting & boiling points.

Intensive Properties

Physical properties that are independent of the amount of matter present, such as pressure and temperature.

Extensive Properties

Physical properties that are dependent on the amount of matter present, such as mass, volume, length, and shape.

Chemical Properties

Properties that can be measured or observed when matter undergoes a change, including reactivity, flammability, toxicity, and acidity.

Reactivity

The tendency of a chemical element or substance to combine chemically.

Flammability

The tendency of a substance to burn.

Toxicity

The extent to which a chemical element may harm an organism.

Acidity

The ability of a substance to react with an acid.

Physical Change

A change that occurs without any changes in molecular composition, remaining present before & after.

Chemical Change

A change resulting in one or more substances of absolutely different composition, such as corrosion.

Filtration

A method used to separate a heterogeneous solid-liquid mixture.

Distillation

A method used to separate a homogeneous solid-liquid mixture.

Chromatography

A method that takes advantage of differences in solubility and extent of adsorption on a solid surface.

Substance

A form of matter that has a definite (constant) composition and distinct properties.

Elements

A type of matter that cannot be broken down into two or more pure substances by chemical means.

Compounds

A pure substance that contains more than one element chemically united in fixed proportions.

Mixture

A combination of two or more identities.

Homogeneous Mixture

A uniform mixture in which the composition is the same throughout.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A non-uniform mixture in which the composition varies throughout.

Consumer Products

Low-priced products that consumers often buy.

Convenience Products

Low-priced consumer products purchased with the least amount of effort, such as soft drinks, snacks, food, and shampoo.

Staples

A subcategory of convenience products that consumers plan to buy before entering the store, such as bread, milk, and detergent.

Impulse Products

Convenience products purchased without planning, often placed strategically near checkout counters, such as candy, soda, and gum.

Emergency Items

Convenience items purchased in response to an immediate need or urgent situation, such as napkins, first aid supplies, and basic necessities.

Shopping Products

Medium-priced products purchased after comparing various products & brands, such as TVs and sofas.

Specialty Products

High-priced products with unique characteristics or brand identity, such as wedding dresses and antiques.

Unsought Products

Consumer products of varying prices that buyers are not aware of or have little interest in pursuing, such as pre-planned funeral services.

Measurements

The process of determining the extent or dimensions of a quantity or something.

Random Error

An indeterminate error that is always present and cannot be corrected.

Systematic Error

A determinate error that can be discovered and corrected.

Percent Error

A way to express inaccurate measurement, calculated as $\% \text{ error} = \frac{\text{true value} - \text{experimental value}}{\text{true value}} \times 100\%$ with the final answer expressed in 2 decimal places.

Precision

How close each measurement is to one another.

Accuracy

The closeness of the average value to the true value.

Scientific Notation

The process of simplifying a very large or very small number, expressed as $N \times 10^n$, where the exponent is positive when the decimal moves to the left and negative when moving to the right.

Significant Figures

Digits that are significant in a measured value and are used to show its precision.

Rounding Off

The process of removing insignificant digits from calculated numbers.

Dimensional Analysis

A process in which a conversion factor written as a ratio is used to change given units into desired units, following $\text{Given quantity} \times \text{conversion factor} = \text{Desired Quantity}$.

Mass

The quantity of matter in an object, with the SI basic unit of kilogram ($\text{kg}$), determined by weighing an object using a balance.

Volume

The amount of space occupied by a substance, determined using a graduated cylinder for liquids, a formula for regularly shaped solids, or the water displacement method for irregularly shaped solids.

Temperature

A measure of how hot or cold an object is, with common units of \text{^\circ C} and \text{^\circ F}, and SI basic unit of Kelvin ($\text{K}$).

Density

The ratio of the mass of an object to the volume it occupies, given by $\text{Density} = \frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}$, where an object sinks when denser and floats when less dense.