2.4 Molecules, Compounds, and Chemical Reactions

Definition of compounds

Substance composed of two or more chemically bonded atoms of different elements.

Definition of molecular formula

Abbreviation for the number of atoms of each element in a compound.

Definition of structural formulas

Representation of the way atoms bond to form a molecule, using symbols for each element and lines to indicate chemical bonds.

Definition of synthesis

Building large molecules from smaller ones.

Definition of decomposition

Breakdown of molecules.

Definition of exchange reaction

Chemical reaction in which parts of two kinds of molecules trade positions.

Definition of catalysts

Chemical that increases the rate of a chemical reaction, but is not permanently altered by the reaction.