Classification of Substances and Chemical Classes

These flashcards cover the classification of substances, historical origins of inorganic and organic chemistry, the four main inorganic functional classes (acids, hydroxides, oxides, salts), chemical nomenclature, and the pH scale.

Single substance (Enkelvoudige stof)

A substance that contains only 1 type of atom, such as metals, non-metals, and noble gases.

Compound substance (Samengestelde stof)

A substance that contains 2 or more different types of atoms.

Inorganic substances

Also called mineral substances, these were historically obtained from inanimate nature like ores, minerals, metals, and salts.

Organic substances

Also called carbon compounds, these are found in living nature (fats, sugars, proteins) or synthesized from petroleum (plastics, nylon).

Functional group (Chemische functie)

A typical atom or group of atoms that characterizes a specific chemical class of compounds.

Acids (Zuren)

Anorganic compounds characterized by the presence of hydrogen at the front of the formula, represented as $HZ$.

Hydroxides

Also known as bases, these substances have the formula $MOH$ (Metal + Hydroxide) and release $OH^-$ ions in water.

Oxides

Binary compounds containing oxygen ($O$) combined with a metal ($MO$) or a non-metal ($nMO$).

Salts (Zouten)

Ionic compounds composed of a positive metal or ammonium ion and a negative acid residue, represented as $MZ$.

Binary acids

Acids built from two elements: hydrogen and a non-metal, such as $HCl$ or $H_2S$.

Ternary acids (Oxoacids)

Acids composed of three elements: hydrogen, a characteristic non-metal, and oxygen, such as $H_2SO_4$ or $HNO_3$.

Acid residue (Zuurrest)

The negative part of an acid formula that remains after the positively charged $H$ atoms are accounted for.

Sodium hydroxide ($NaOH$)

Known by the trivial name 'bijtende soda' (caustic soda), it is a white solid used in drain cleaners to dissolve proteins and fats.

Calcium oxide ($CaO$)

Called 'ongebluste kalk' (unslaked lime), it is strongly hygroscopic and used as a drying agent.

Carbon monoxide ($CO$)

An extremely toxic, odorless gas known as the 'silent killer,' produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon.

Sodium hydrogen carbonate ($NaHCO_3$)

A white powder used in baking powder and as 'maagzout' (stomach salt) to neutralize stomach acid ($HCl$).

pH-scale

A quantitative scale from $0$ to $14$ used to measure acidity; values below $7$ are acidic, and values above $7$ are basic.

Neutral solution

A solution where the number of $H^+$ ions and $OH^-$ ions are equal, resulting in a pH of exactly $7$ (e.g., demineralized water).

Nitric acid ($HNO_3$)

Also known as 'salpeterzuur,' it is used in the explosives and fertilizer industries.

Aqua regia (Koningswater)

A mixture of $HCl$ and $HNO_3$ that is the only mixture capable of dissolving gold.