Aqueous Solutions

Salts

Ionic compounds formed from a metal and a nonmetal (e.g., CuCl).

Molecules

Covalent compounds consisting only of nonmetals.

Acids

Compounds that begin with hydrogen (e.g., HCl).

Bases

Compounds that end with hydroxide (e.g., NaOH).

Soluble

Substances that dissolve in water (indicated as (aq)).

Insoluble

Substances that do not dissolve in water (indicated as (s)).

Ionic compounds

Will dissolve in water if they contain an alkali metal, ammonium, or nitrate.

Covalent substances

Do not dissolve in water because they lack ions.

Electrolytes

Substances that conduct electricity when dissolved in water.

Strong electrolytes

Substances that dissolve in water and conduct electricity well.

Nonelectrolyte

Substances that do not dissolve in water and do not conduct electricity.

Strong acids

Acids that completely ionize in water (e.g., HCl, HBr).

Strong bases

Bases that completely ionize in water, including Group 1 hydroxides and certain alkaline earth hydroxides.

Weak acids and bases

Substances that barely ionize in water and are weak electrolytes.

Hydro Prefix

Used in naming acids with no polyatomic ions (e.g., HBr becomes Hydrobromic acid).

Polyatomic acids

Acids that do not use the hydro prefix; "ate" becomes "ic" and "ite" becomes "ous" (e.g., H₂CO₃ is Carbonic Acid).

Precipitation

A double displacement reaction that occurs when an insoluble product forms.

Spectator ions

Ions that do not participate in the reaction and are omitted from the net ionic equation.

Net ionic equation

The simplified equation that excludes spectator ions.

Nonmetal oxides

React with water to form acids.

Metal oxides

React with water to form bases.

Strong Acid List

HCl, HBr, HI, HClO4, H2SO4, HNO3