Inorganic Chemistry Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on inorganic chemistry, focusing on atomic structure, chemical properties, bonds, and reactions.

Chemistry

The science that deals with the structure of matter, including the structure of atoms and how they combine to form complex structures.

Matter

Anything that takes up space and has mass, existing in states such as solid, liquid, and gas.

Atom

The basic unit of matter that joins together to form chemicals with different characteristics.

Proton

A subatomic particle with a positive charge located in the nucleus, having a mass of 1 mass unit.

Neutron

A subatomic particle that is neutral, located in the nucleus, and also has a mass of 1 mass unit.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative charge, located in the electron cloud, with a very low mass (1/1836 mass unit).

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom, which determines an element's identity and chemical properties.

Isotope

Versions of elements that differ in mass number, indicated by differing numbers of neutrons.

Ion

An atom that gains or loses electrons to become stable; may be positively charged (cation) or negatively charged (anion).

Cation

A positively charged ion that loses electrons to achieve stability.

Anion

A negatively charged ion that gains electrons to achieve stability.

Ionic Bond

An electrical attraction between cations and anions, where opposites attract to form compounds.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed by the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, which can be single, double, or triple.

Polar Molecule

A molecule with an unequal distribution of charges, resulting in a negative and a positive side, such as water.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak polar bond formed between adjacent molecules, based on electrical attractions.

Endergonic Reaction

A chemical reaction that absorbs energy, requiring more energy to begin than what is released.

Exergonic Reaction

A chemical reaction that releases energy, often in the form of heat.

Organic Compounds

Molecules based on carbon and hydrogen, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Inorganic Compounds

Molecules that are not based on carbon and hydrogen, such as carbon dioxide and water.

pH

The measure of hydrogen ion concentration in a solution, indicating its acidity or alkalinity.

Buffer

A solution that stabilizes pH by neutralizing strong acids or bases, often involving a weak acid and its related salt.