Ch 1 Chemical Reactions And Equations

What is a chemical reaction?

A process in which substances (reactants) are transformed into different substances (products).

What are reactants?

The starting materials in a chemical reaction.

What are products?

The substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

What is a chemical equation?

A representation of a chemical reaction using symbols and formulas.

What does the law of conservation of mass state?

Matter can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

What is a balanced chemical equation?

An equation where the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides.

What is an exothermic reaction?

A chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat.

What is an endothermic reaction?

A chemical reaction that absorbs energy from the surroundings.

What is activation energy?

The minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

What are catalysts?

Substances that increase the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed.

What are inhibitors?

Substances that decrease the rate of a chemical reaction.

What is a precipitation reaction?

A type of reaction where two solutions combine to form an insoluble solid.

What is an oxidation reaction?

A reaction involving the loss of electrons from a substance.

What is a reduction reaction?

A reaction involving the gain of electrons by a substance.

What is a synthesis reaction?

A reaction where two or more reactants combine to form a single product.

What is a decomposition reaction?

A reaction where a single compound breaks down into two or more products.

What is a single replacement reaction?

A reaction where one element replaces another in a compound.

What is a double replacement reaction?

A reaction where the ions of two compounds exchange places to form two new compounds.

What are coefficients in a chemical equation?

Numbers placed before compounds to indicate the number of molecules or moles.

What are subscripts in a chemical formula?

Numbers that indicate the number of atoms of each element in a molecule.

What is a soluble substance?

A substance that dissolves in a solvent to form a solution.

What is an insoluble substance?

A substance that does not dissolve significantly in a solvent.

What is a balanced equation used for?

To show that mass is conserved during a chemical reaction.

What is stoichiometry?

The calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions.

What is a limiting reactant?

The reactant that is completely consumed in a chemical reaction.

What is an excess reactant?

The reactant that remains after a chemical reaction has completed.

What does the term 'aqueous solution' mean?

A solution in which water is the solvent.

What are diatomic molecules?

Molecules composed of two atoms of the same or different elements.

What are acids?

Substances that release hydrogen ions (H+) in solution.

What are bases?

Substances that release hydroxide ions (OH-) in solution.

What is a neutralization reaction?

A reaction between an acid and a base that produces water and a salt.

What is combustion?

A chemical reaction that occurs when a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen, producing heat and light.

What is a redox reaction?

A reaction involving both oxidation and reduction processes.

What is a molecular equation?

An equation that shows the complete chemical formulas of reactants and products.

What is an ionic equation?

An equation that shows the ions involved in a reaction, excluding spectator ions.

What are spectator ions?

Ions that do not participate in the actual chemical reaction.

What are phase symbols?

Symbols used to indicate the physical states of substances (s, l, g, aq).

What does 's' stand for in a chemical equation?

Solid.

What does 'l' stand for in a chemical equation?

Liquid.

What does 'g' stand for in a chemical equation?

Gas.

What does 'aq' stand for in a chemical equation?

Aqueous solution.

What is thermal decomposition?

A decomposition reaction induced by heat.

What is a combustion reaction?

A type of reaction where a substance combines with oxygen, releasing energy.

What is a synthesis reaction?

A reaction where two or more substances combine to form a new substance.

What factors affect the rate of a chemical reaction?

Temperature, concentration, surface area, and the presence of catalysts.

What is equilibrium in a chemical reaction?

The state when the forward and reverse reaction rates are equal.

What is Le Chatelier’s Principle?

A principle stating that if a system at equilibrium is disturbed, the system will shift to counteract the disturbance.

What does pH measure?

The acidity or basicity of a solution.

What is a bioreactor?

A vessel in which biological reactions take place, often used for chemical reactions involving microorganisms.

What are chromatography and its relation to chemical reactions?

A technique used to separate mixtures; can help identify substances formed in reactions.

What are electrolytes?

Substances that dissociate into ions in solution and can conduct electricity.