General Chemistry and Wave Mechanics Lecture Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering electromagnetic radiation, wave properties, stoichiometry, SI units, electrostatics, significant figures, chemical formulas, and classifications of matter.

Electromagnetic Radiation

An oscillating electric and magnetic field wave propagating perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the axis of light motion.

Wavelength and Frequency Inverse Relationship

The dynamic where short wavelength corresponds to high frequency and long wavelength corresponds to low frequency, related by the equation $c = \frac{\text{wavelength}}{\text{period}}$ or $c = \nu \times \text{wavelength}$.

Constructive Interference

An interference pattern formed when two light waves overlap perfectly, resulting in light bands and a combined wave with a larger amplitude.

Destructive Interference

An interference pattern formed when two light waves are out of sync, resulting in dark bands and a combined wave of $0$ amplitude.

Diffraction

The behavior of light waves passing through narrow slits, causing them to collide and create interference patterns.

Theoretical Yield

The maximum calculated amount of product that can be made in a chemical reaction assuming complete consumption of the limiting reactant.

Actual Yield

The measured mass of post-reaction product compound actually obtained from an experiment.

Percent Yield

A measurement of total reaction efficiency calculated as $\text{Percent Yield} = \frac{\text{Actual Yield}}{\text{Theoretical Yield}} \times 100$.

Limiting Reactant

The reactant that produces the smaller amount of product in stoichiometric calculations and is completely consumed first in a chemical reaction.

Excess Reactant

All reactant elements or compounds remaining after the limiting reactant has been completely consumed.

Absolute Zero

The temperature at $0\text{ K}$ where atoms and molecules stop moving; it is the coldest possible temperature in the universe and cannot be a negative value.

Coulomb's Law

The fundamental electrostatic principle stating that electrostatic force $F = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{d^2}$ where $k = 8.988 \times 10^9\text{ N}\text{m}^2/\text{C}^2$, showing like charges repel and opposite charges attract.

Newton's Third Law (Electrostatics)

The principle that the electrostatic force exerted by charge $q_1$ on $q_2$ is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force exerted by $q_2$ on $q_1$.

Potential Energy (PE)

Stored energy waiting to be released in a system.

Kinetic Energy (KE)

Active energy associated with an object or system in motion.

Exact Numbers

Values known with complete certainty that do not stem from physical measurement with an instrument, such as counted items or defined mathematical ratios.

Significant Digits Addition and Subtraction Rule

The rule requiring the final calculated answer to be rounded to the smallest number of decimal places among the starting values.

Significant Digits Multiplication and Division Rule

The rule requiring the final calculated answer to be rounded to the lowest total number of significant figures in any starting value.

Empirical Formula

The simplest whole-number ratio of the elements in a compound.

Molecular Formula

The true formula showing the exact number of each atom in a molecule, determined by scaling the empirical formula by $n = \frac{\text{molar mass}}{\text{empirical formula mass}}$.

Pure Substance

Matter that contains only one type of particle or unit and cannot be separated by physical means.

Mixture

Matter that contains more than one type of particle and can be separated by physical means.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture with an inconsistent composition throughout.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture with a consistent composition throughout.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when electrons are shared between atoms, typically between nonmetals.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed when electrons are transferred between atoms, typically between a metal and a nonmetal.