Inorganic chemistry vocabulary

Organic

Containing carbon

inorgainc

not containing carbon

intermolecular bonds

forces that hold molecules together to form compounds

electronegativity

measures how strongly an atom attracts electrons to itself

covalent bond

between two nonmetals that share electrons

polar covalent

uneven distribution of electrons and charges, differences in electronegativity

nonpolar covalent

even distribution of electrons and charges, even electronegativity

hydrogen bond

attraction between a positively charged atom of one molecule to a negatively changed atom of another

Cohesion

water's ability to form hydrogen bonds with other water molecules(water "sticks" to water)

adhesion

water's ability to form hydrogen bonds with other charged substances (water "sticks" to stuff)

Surface tension

Cohesive bonds to the top layer of a body of water create a strong surface (allows insects to walk on water, droplets to form)

Capilary action

Water utilizes cohesion and adhesion to move up a tube against gravity (toots of tree moving water to leaves)

Universal solvent

Water's polarity (have both positive and negative charges) allow it to disolve many things (everything except nonpolar substances)

Spesific heat

the amount of energy it takes to rise the temperature of a substance( water has a high specific heat--> oceans are warmer at the end of summer than the beginning)