Unit 8: Chemical Reactions in Everyday Lives - Decomposition and Acid-Carbonate Reactions

Vocabulary flashcards covering key chemical reaction concepts, chemical equation symbols, decomposition reactions, and acid-carbonate reactions.

Chemical Reaction

A process in which one or more substances (reactants) are transformed into new substances (products), often accompanied by observable signs such as gas formation, heat change, color change, or precipitate formation.

Reactants

Substances located on the left side of a chemical equation that are present at the start of a chemical reaction.

Products

Substances located on the right side of a chemical equation that are produced as a result of a chemical reaction.

Chemical Equation

A symbolic representation of a reaction showing reactants on the left, products on the right, coefficients for particle counts, and state symbols for physical states.

Yields Arrow ($\rightarrow$)

A symbol in a chemical equation read as "yields" or "produces" that points from reactants to products to show the direction of the reaction.

Coefficients

Whole numbers written in front of chemical formulas in an equation showing how many molecules or units of that substance participate in the reaction.

Subscripts

Small numbers written within a chemical formula indicating how many atoms of each element are present in one particle of that substance.

State Symbols

Letters in parentheses following a chemical formula indicating physical state: $(s)$ for solid, $(l)$ for liquid, $(g)$ for gas, and $(aq)$ for aqueous.

Aqueous ($(aq)$)

A state symbol denoting that a substance is dissolved in water.

Decomposition Reaction

A chemical reaction in which a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances, often requiring heat, light, or electricity.

Acid–Carbonate Reaction

A chemical reaction in which an acid reacts with a carbonate to produce a salt, water, and carbon dioxide gas.

Electrolysis

A chemical process using electricity to split a compound, such as decomposing liquid water into hydrogen and oxygen gases.

Precipitate

A solid that forms when two liquids are mixed during a chemical reaction.

Gypsum

The solid calcium sulfate ($CaSO_4(s)$) compound formed when sulfuric acid in acid rain reacts with marble or limestone ($CaCO_3(s)$).