Chemistry and Chemical Reactions Lecture Notes

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers chemical reactions (displacement, combustion, neutralization), reactivity series, periodic table basics, catalysts, and laboratory indicators based on the lecture transcript.

Displacement reaction

A chemical reaction where a more reactive element displaces a less reactive element from its compound, such as aluminum displacing iron in iron oxide.

Reactivity Series

A list of elements arranged by their reactivity, including Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Carbon, Zinc, Iron, and Lead.

Element

A substance shown on the Periodic Table that contains only one type of atom.

Catalysts

Substances used in chemical reactions to speed up the process and produce more product quickly without being used up themselves.

Exothermic reaction

A reaction that releases energy, such as Elephant toothpaste or the reaction between magnesium and oxygen.

Endothermic reaction

A chemical reaction where energy is taken in from the surroundings, such as mixing barium hydroxide and ammonium chloride.

Thermal decomposition

A reaction where a substance is heated so much that it breaks up into simpler parts, such as copper carbonate breaking down.

Fire triangle

The three components required for combustion: heat, fuel, and oxygen.

Complete combustion

Burning a fuel (like methane) in a plentiful supply of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water: $CH_4 + 2O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + 2H_2O$.

Incomplete combustion

Burning a fuel in a limited supply of oxygen, resulting in the production of carbon monoxide ($CO$), soot (carbon particles), and water.

Methane

The scientific name for natural gas, with the chemical formula $CH_4$.

Sulfur dioxide

A pollutant produced by impurities in coal that leads to acid rain and can cause asthma.

Carbon monoxide

A toxic gas produced by faulty gas boilers or incomplete combustion that affects the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Conservation of mass

The law stating that in a chemical reaction no atom can be destroyed; they only change how they are bonded, meaning total mass remains consistent.

Solute

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

Solvent

The substance (such as water) that dissolves the solute.

Neutralization

A chemical reaction between an acid and an alkali that produces a salt and water, reaching a $pH$ value of 7.

Universal indicator

A mixture of indicators that shows a range of $pH$ values through different colors, such as red for most acidic, green for neutral, and purple for most alkaline.

Red litmus paper

An indicator that stays red in acid and turns blue in alkali.

Blue litmus paper

An indicator that turns red in acid and stays blue in alkali.