Chemistry Exam Review Flashcards

These flashcards cover key topics from the chemistry exam review, including significant figures, atomic structure, periodic trends, nomenclature for ionic and covalent compounds, acids, reaction types, and stoichiometry.

Significant figures

Numbers that indicate the precision of a measurement.

Proton

A subatomic particle with a charge of $+1$ located in the nucleus with a mass of approximately $1\,amu$.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with a charge of $0$ located in the nucleus with a mass of approximately $1\,amu$.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a charge of $-1$ located in the electron cloud with a mass of approximately $0\,amu$.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom which determines the identity of an element.

Mass Number

The sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons in an atom.

Cations

Positive ions formed when an atom loses electrons.

Anions

Negative ions formed when an atom gains electrons.

Periods

The horizontal rows of the periodic table.

Groups/Families

The vertical columns of the periodic table.

Alkali Metals

Highly reactive elements found in Group 1 of the periodic table.

Alkaline Earth Metals

Elements found in Group 2 of the periodic table.

Halogens

Very reactive nonmetals found in Group 17 of the periodic table.

Noble Gases

Stable and unreactive elements found in Group 18 of the periodic table.

Metalloids

Elements located along the staircase line of the periodic table.

Atomic Radius Trend (Period)

Decreases as you move from left to right across a period.

Ionization Energy Trend (Period)

Increases as you move from left to right across a period.

Electronegativity Trend (Period)

Increases as you move from left to right across a period.

Ionic Compounds

Compounds formed between metals and nonmetals where the metal is named first and the nonmetal ending is changed to "-ide."

Covalent Compounds

Compounds formed between nonmetals using prefixes to indicate the number of atoms.

Binary Acids

Acids composed of hydrogen and a nonmetal, named using the pattern "Hydro- + root + -ic acid."

Oxyacids

Acids where the name is determined by the polyatomic anion ending (e.g., "-ate" becomes "-ic acid" and "-ite" becomes "-nitrous acid").

Law of Conservation of Mass

The principle stating that matter cannot be created or destroyed.

Synthesis Reaction

A reaction where two or more substances combine to form a single product: $A + B \rightarrow AB$.

Decomposition Reaction

A reaction where a single compound breaks down into two or more products: $AB \rightarrow A + B$.

Single Replacement Reaction

A reaction where one element replaces another in a compound: $A + BC \rightarrow AC + B$.

Double Replacement Reaction

A reaction where the ions of two compounds exchange places to form two new compounds: $AB + CD \rightarrow AD + CB$.

Combustion Reaction

A reaction between a hydrocarbon and $O_2$ that produces $CO_2$ and $H_2O$.

Mole

A unit of measurement representing $6.022 \times 10^{23}$ particles.

Molar Mass

The mass in grams of one mole of a substance ($g\,mol^{-1}$).