General Chemistry I - Chemical Reactions and Stoichiometry

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to chemical reactions and stoichiometry, including definitions of terms and descriptions of various types of chemical equations.

Balancing Chemical Equations

Equations that have the correct coefficients for all reactants and products.

In a chemical reaction, atoms are neither created nor destroyed.

Conservation of Mass

Reactants

Substances that are present before a chemical reaction, located on the left side of a chemical equation.

Products

Substances that are present after a chemical reaction, located on the right side of a chemical equation.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture that has a uniform composition throughout.

Aqueous Solution

A solution in which water is the solvent.

Electrolyte

A substance that forms ions in solution and conducts electricity.

Nonelectrolyte

A substance that does not form ions in solution and does not conduct electricity.

Strong Electrolyte

A substance that almost completely dissociates into ions in solution.

Weak Electrolyte

A substance that only partially dissociates into ions in solution.

Solubility

The ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent.

Insoluble

Substances that have limited or no solubility in a solvent.

Solvent

The substance in a solution present in the greatest quantity.

Solute

The substance(s) that are dissolved in a solvent.

Net Ionic Equation

An equation that shows only the ions that participate in the reaction, excluding spectator ions.

Spectator Ions

Ions that do not participate in a chemical reaction and appear unchanged on both sides of the equation.

Precipitation Reaction

A reaction in which an insoluble solid forms and separates from the solution.

Metathesis Reaction

A reaction involving the exchange of ions between two compounds.

General Solubility Rule

Guidelines to determine the solubility of ionic compounds in water.

Polyatomic Ion

An ion composed of two or more atoms that are covalently bonded together.

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Chemical Reaction Type

Classifications of reactions based on their characteristics, including precipitation, acid-base, and oxidation-reduction.

Molecular Equation

An equation that shows all reactants and products in their molecular forms.

Complete Ionic Equation

An equation where all strong electrolytes are represented as separate ions.

Acid-Base Reaction

A reaction involving the transfer of protons (H+) between reactants.

Oxidation-Reduction Reaction

A reaction that involves the transfer of electrons between substances.

Sulfate Solubility

General rule: Most sulfates are soluble, except those containing certain metal ions.

Reduction

The gain of electrons by a species in a chemical reaction.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons by a species in a chemical reaction.

Combustion Reaction

A reaction in which a substance reacts with oxygen to produce energy, often producing CO2 and H2O.