Chem 101 Summer 2025

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers introductory chemistry concepts including definitions of matter and energy, SI unit prefixes, dimensional analysis, and the classifications of physical and chemical properties.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space (volume); it consists of elements and compounds and is affected by gravity.

Energy

The ability to do work, move matter, or convert matter; it can be found in forms such as sound, light, heat, potential, kinetic, or thermal.

Chemistry

The discipline that seeks to understand matter and its properties.

International System of Units (SI) Base Unit for Mass

kilogram ($kg$)

International System of Units (SI) Base Unit for Length

meter ($m$)

International System of Units (SI) Base Unit for Time

second ($s$)

International System of Units (SI) Base Unit for Temperature

kelvin ($K$)

International System of Units (SI) Base Unit for Amount of Substance

mole ($mol$)

Tera (T)

An SI prefix representing a factor of $10^{12}$ or $1,000,000,000,000$.

Giga (G)

An SI prefix representing a factor of $10^9$ or $1,000,000,000$.

Mega (M)

An SI prefix representing a factor of $10^6$ or $1,000,000$.

Kilo (k)

An SI prefix representing a factor of $10^3$ or $1,000$.

Deci (d)

An SI prefix representing a factor of $10^{-1}$ or $0.1$.

Centi (c)

An SI prefix representing a factor of $10^{-2}$ or $0.01$.

Milli (m)

An SI prefix representing a factor of $10^{-3}$ or $0.001$.

Micro ($\mu$)

An SI prefix representing a factor of $10^{-6}$ or $0.000001$.

Nano (n)

An SI prefix representing a factor of $10^{-9}$ or $0.000000001$.

Pico (p)

An SI prefix representing a factor of $10^{-12}$ or $0.000000000001$.

Dimensional Analysis

Using units as a guide to solving problems; units are treated as algebraic quantities that can be multiplied, divided, and canceled.

Unit Equation

A statement of two equivalent quantities, for example, $2.54\,\text{cm} = 1\,\text{in}$.

Conversion Factor

A fractional quantity of a unit equation with the units being converted from on the bottom and the units being converted to on the top.

Intensive Properties

Properties that do NOT depend on the amount of matter present, such as color, odor, melting/freezing point, boiling point, and density.

Extensive Properties

Properties that DO depend on the amount of matter present, such as mass, weight, volume, and length.

Chemical Property

A quality that can be established only by changing a substance's chemical identity, becoming evident during or after a chemical reaction.

Physical Property

A quality that can be observed or measured without changing the composition of matter.

Density

An intensive physical property calculated as mass divided by volume ($\text{Density (d)} = \frac{m}{V}$).