Physical Science Exam Study Guide

Chemical change

Change in color, production of a gas, formation of a solid

Chemical property

Some examples are density, melting point, and boiling point

Element

Contains only 1 type of atom

Gas

No definite shape or volume

Kinetic theory

Particles of matter are in constant motion

Liquid

Takes shape of container, definite volume

Scientific theory

Explanation of observed pattern in nature

Solid

Definite shape and definite volume

Alkali metal family

Extremely reactive metals, group 1 on periodic table

Alkaline earth metal family

Group 2 on the periodic table

Covalent bond

Electrons are shared between atoms

Group

Column on the periodic table

Halogen family

Highly reactive nonmetals, group 17

Ionic bond

Electrons are transferred from 1 atom to another

Mendeleev

He arranged elements by increasing atomic mass

Metals

Good conductor of electric current and heat

Metalloids

They fall between those of good and poor conductors

Nonmetals

Poor conductor of electric current and heat

Noble gas family

Colorless, odorless, and extremely unreactive, Group 18

Period

Row on the periodic table

Polar covalent bond

Atoms with different electronegativities share electrons in a covalent bond

Acid

Tastes sour, reacts with metals, turns litmus red

What things affect rates of reaction?

Temperature, surface area, concentration, stirring and catalysts

Balanced equation

Used to show that mass is conserved in a chemical reaction

Base

Tastes bitter, feels slippery, turns litmus blue

Decomposition

The process or effect of simplifying a single chemical entity into two or more fragments

Double replacement

Ions exchange to form 2 new compounds

Endothermic

Energy is absorbed

Exothermic

Energy is released

Fission

The splitting of a heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei

Fusion

Joining of hydrogen in the plasma state produces energy

Half life

Time it takes for half of a radioactive sample to decay

Law of conservation of mass

Mass is neither created nor destroyed

Nuclear decay

Splitting produces large amounts of energy

Quark

Subatomic particle that makes up protons and neutrons

Saturated

Maximum dissolved at that temperature

Single replacement

1 element replaces similar element in a compound

Solute

Substance being dissolved

Solvent

Substance doing the dissolving

Supersaturated

Can hold more than normal at that temperature

Synthesis

Joining of elements to form 1 product

Unsaturated

Can dissolve more at that temperature