dimensional analysis
a mathematical technique that allows you to use units to solve problems involving measurements
conversion factor
a fraction in which the top equals the bottom- used for canceling units
temperature
a measure of average kinetic energy
absolute zero
the point in which a substance has no motion. this is the coldest an object can be
density
the ratio of mass of an object to the volume
specific gravity
a comparison of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance, usually at the same temperature
accepted value
information given to be true
experimental value
information obtained in a experiment
error
accepted value minus experimental value
percent error
the absolute value of the error divided by the accepted value, multiplied by 100%
matter
Anything that has mass and takes up space
mass
the amount of matter in an object
solid
A state of matter that has a definite shape and volume
liquid
A state of matter that has a definite volume but no definite shape.
gas
A state of matter with no definite shape or volume
property
any characteristic of something that we can use to identify and recognize the thing when we see it again
physical property
a quality or condition of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's composition
physical change
an alteration of a substance without changing its composition
chemical property
the ability of a substance to undergo chemical reactions and to form new substances
chemical change
a change in the fundamental components of a substance
elements
the simplest form of matter that can exist under normal lab conditions
compound
two or more different elements chemically bonded
mixture
consist of a physical blend of two or more substances
heterogenous mixture
a mixture that appears to be made of different substances
homogeneous mixture
a mixture that appears to be only one substance
colloid
a substance is which microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are suspended throughout another substance
Tyndall effect
The scattering of light due to the large size of the particles in a colloid
solution
A homogeneous mixture at the atomic or molecular level
solute
the part that gets dissolved. has apparent phase change
solvent
the part of the solution that does the dissolving. no apparent phase change
distillation
A process used to separate a mixture of substances. the mixture is boiled and then condensed again to a liquid. the substances are separated by difference in boiling point
filtration
a mixture poured on a mesh, such as filter paper which allows the liquid to pass through and leaves the solid behind.
chromatography
process for separating components of a mixture. is dissolved in a substance called the mobile phase, which carries it through a second substance called the stationary phase.
quantitative measurements
give results in a definite form, usually as numbers
qualitative measurements
results are description in nonnumerical form
theory
a thoroughly tested and detailed explanation of why experiments give certain results
(natural) Law
a statement that summarizes the results of a broad spectrum of observations and experiments
experiment group
Group with the experimental variable. Alike in every other way
control group
this group is alike in every way to the exp. group without the exp. variable
variable
anything that can change or vary from group to group
independent variable
variable that is purposely manipulated
dependent variable
variable directly measured
scientific notation
a number written as the product of two numbers a coefficient and a power of ten