AP Chemistry Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts in AP Chemistry from compounds, chemical changes, states of matter, to thermochemistry and electrochemistry.

Chemical Change

A process where compounds can be separated into elements.

Physical Change

A process where mixtures can be separated based on physical properties.

Filtering

A method of separating mixtures based on differences in particle size.

Filtrate

The liquid that passes through the filter paper during filtration.

Distillation

A separation technique that utilizes differences in boiling points.

Chromatography

A technique used to separate mixtures based on differences in polarity.

Mass Conservation

The principle that mass is conserved during chemical and physical changes.

Density Formula

Density is defined as mass divided by volume (Density = mass/volume).

Ionization Energy

The energy required to remove an electron from an atom.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion that is smaller than its parent atom due to the loss of electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion that is larger than its parent atom due to the gain of electrons.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed between two nonmetals sharing electrons.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed when a metal transfers electrons to a nonmetal.

Electronegativity

A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.

Combustion Reaction

A chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide and water.

Empirical Formula

The simplest whole number ratio of the elements in a compound.

Molecular Formula

A formula that shows the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule.

Gas Pressure

The force exerted by gas particles colliding with the walls of a container.

Charles's Law

The principle that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature at constant pressure.

Gay-Lussac's Law

The principle that the pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature at constant volume.

Kinetic Energy

The energy that an object possesses due to its motion.

Intermolecular Forces

Forces that occur between molecules, influencing their physical properties.

Lattice Energy

The energy required to break an ionic bond in a compound.

Activation Energy

The minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

Le Chatelier's Principle

A principle stating that if a system at equilibrium is disturbed, it will shift to counteract the disturbance.

Acid-Base Reaction

A reaction where an acid donates a proton (H+) and a base accepts a proton.

pH Scale

A scale used to measure how acidic or basic a solution is.

Buffer

A solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.

Thermodynamically Favorable Reaction

A reaction that occurs spontaneously, indicated by a negative ΔG.

Electrochemical Cell

A device that generates electric current from chemical reactions.

Salt Bridge

A device used to connect the oxidation and reduction half-cells of an electrochemical cell.

Half-Life

The time required for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to decay.