Chemical Bonding, Solutions, and pH

A set of vocabulary flashcards reviewing chemical bonding, solutions, aqueous conditions, acids, bases, buffers, and the pH scale.

Octet Rule

The principle that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons when forming compounds to achieve a stable noble gas electron configuration of an octet of electrons.

Solution

A liquid consisting of a uniform mixture of two or more substances.

Solvent

The dissolving agent in a solution.

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solution.

Aqueous Solution

A solution in which water is the solvent.

Hydrogen Ion ($H^+$)

A highly reactive ion formed when a small percentage of water molecules break apart in aqueous solutions.

Hydroxide Ion ($OH^-$)

A highly reactive ion formed alongside hydrogen ions when water molecules break apart in aqueous solutions.

Acid

A compound that releases $H^+$ to a solution.

Base

A compound that accepts $H^+$.

pH Scale

A scale ranging from $0$ to $14$ that describes how acidic or basic a solution is, where zero is the most acidic, $14$ is the most basic, and each unit represents a tenfold change in the concentration of $H^+$.

Buffer

A substance that minimizes changes in pH by accepting $H^+$ when it is in excess and donating $H^+$ when it is depleted.

Neutral Solution

A solution with a pH of $7$ in which the concentration of hydrogen ions equals the concentration of hydroxide ions ($[H^+] = [OH^-]$).

Acidic Solution

A solution with a pH ranging from $0$ up to less than $7$ where the concentration of hydrogen ions is greater than hydroxide ions ($[H^+] > [OH^-]$).

Alkaline Solution

A basic solution with a pH ranging from greater than $7$ up to $14$ where the concentration of hydroxide ions is greater than hydrogen ions ($[OH^-] > [H^+]$).