General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to chemistry basics, matter, measurement, and the periodic table.

Matter

Anything that takes up space and has weight.

Pure Substance

Matter made up of only one type of substance, represented by one chemical formula or symbol.

Element

The simplest type of matter, made up of only one type of atom.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that retains its unique characteristics.

Compound

A pure substance made of two or more elements chemically joined together.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture with the same composition throughout.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture with a composition that varies throughout.

Chemical Symbol

A letter or two representing the name of an element.

Group (Periodic Table)

A vertical column of elements with similar chemical behaviors.

Period (Periodic Table)

A horizontal row in the periodic table.

Macronutrients

Elements needed in quantities greater than 100 milligrams per day.

Micronutrients

Elements needed in quantities less than 100 milligrams per day.

Chemical Formula

Identifies which elements and how many atoms of each are present in a compound.

Physical Change

A change in the state of matter where the form changes, but the identity remains the same.

Chemical Change

Results in a change in the chemical identity of a substance.

Chemical Equation

Shows what happens to the substances involved in a chemical reaction.

Reactants

Substances that react in a chemical equation.

Product

Substance formed as the result of a chemical reaction.

Law of Conservation of Mass

Matter only changes form, so the amount of matter on the reactant side and product side must be equal.

Significant Figures

Digits known with certainty plus one estimated digit in a measurement.

Scientific Notation

A way of writing numbers as C x 10^n, where C is between 1 and 10, and n is an exponent.

Système International d’Unités (SI)

The modern-day version of the metric system.

Kilogram (kg)

The standard SI unit for mass.

Liter (L)

The standard SI unit for volume.

Meter (m)

The standard SI unit for length.

Dimensional Analysis

Converting units to an equivalent unit.

Mass

Measure of the amount of material in an object.

Volume

A three-dimensional measure of the space occupied by matter.

Density

A comparison (ratio) of a substance’s mass to its volume. d = m/V

Specific Gravity

The ratio of the density of a sample to the density of water.

Kelvin (K)

The SI unit for temperature. Also known as the absolute scale.

Energy

The capacity to do work or supply heat.

Potential Energy

Stored energy.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion.

Law of Conservation of Energy

Energy takes various forms, but it is never created or destroyed.

Joule (J)

The SI unit for energy.

Calorie (cal)

The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 °Celsius.

States of Matter

The physical form in which matter exists (solid, liquid, gas).

Accuracy

Taking measurements close to the actual or true value.

Precision

Taking measurements that are similar in value.