Chemistry: Methods and Measurement

Flashcards for vocabulary review.

Repetition

Central to the science of learning chemistry; required for long-term retention of facts.

Study Cycle

Preview material, attend class actively, review notes soon after class, study in short sessions, and assess knowledge.

Chemistry

The study of matter and the changes it undergoes.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

Energy

The ability to do work to accomplish some change.

Biochemistry

The study of life at the molecular level.

Organic Chemistry

The study of matter containing carbon and hydrogen.

Inorganic Chemistry

The study of matter containing elements other than carbon and hydrogen.

Analytic Chemistry

Analyze matter to determine identity and composition.

Physical Chemistry

Explains the way matter behaves.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach to the discovery of new information.

Observation

Color, taste, odor, temperature, size, mass, etc.

Hypothesis

An attempt to explain observation(s).

Theory

A hypothesis supported by extensive testing.

Data

The individual result of a single measurement.

Scientific Law

Summary of a large quantity of information.

Property

Characteristics of matter scientists can use to categorize different types of matter

Pure Substance

A substance that has only one component.

Mixture

A combination of two or more pure substances in which each substance retains its own identity.

Element

A pure substance that cannot be changed into a simpler form of matter by any chemical reaction.

Compound

A pure substance resulting from the combination of two or more elements in a definite, reproducible way.

Homogeneous Mixture

Uniform composition, particles well mixed.

Heterogeneous Mixture

Nonuniform composition, random placement.

Physical Property

Observed without changing the composition or identity of a substance.

Physical Change

Produces a recognizable difference in the appearance of a substance without changing composition.

Chemical Property

Results in a change in composition and can be observed only through a chemical reaction.

Chemical Reaction

A chemical substance is converted into one or more different substances.

Intensive Property

A property of matter that is independent of the quantity of the substance (e.g., color, melting point).

Extensive Property

A property of matter that depends on the quantity of the substance (e.g., mass, volume).

Units

The basic quantity of mass, volume, or whatever quantity is being measured.

Metric System

A system of units that are related to each other decimally.

Mass

The quantity of matter in an object.

Volume

The space occupied by an object.

Significant Figures

Information-bearing digits or figures in a number.

Accuracy

Degree of agreement between the true value and the measured value.

Precision

A measure of the agreement of replicate measurements.

Exact Numbers

Numbers that are a consequence of counting and have an infinite number of significant figures.

Factor-Label Method

A method used for conversion between units (Dimensional Analysis).

Temperature

The degree of 'hotness' of an object.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion.

Potential Energy

The energy of position (stored energy).

Calorie

The amount of heat energy required to increase the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.

Joule

Basic unit of energy; 1 calorie = 4.184 joules.

Concentration

The amount of a substance contained in a specified volume.

Density

The ratio of mass to volume of a substance.

Specific Gravity

The ratio of the density of a substance to the density of pure water at 4°C