Science 1206: Chemical Reactions and Nomenclature

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering basic atomic structure, periodic table trends, binary and ternary chemical nomenclature, chemical equations, reaction types, and rates of reaction from Science 1206.

Chemistry

The study of the composition, properties, and reactions of matter.

Atom

The smallest particle of an element that still retains the properties of that element; it cannot be divided any smaller and is the building block of all matter.

Proton

A positively charged ($p^+$) subatomic particle with a mass of $1\,\text{amu}$ located inside the nucleus.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with no charge ($n^0$) and a mass of $1\,\text{amu}$ located inside the nucleus.

Electron

A negatively charged ($e^-$) subatomic particle with a mass of $0\,\text{amu}$ arranged outside the nucleus in energy levels.

Element

A pure substance containing only one type of atom that cannot be broken down into simpler components.

Atomic Number

A number assigned to each element representing the number of protons contained in each atom.

Period

A horizontal row of elements in the periodic table.

Group (Family)

A vertical column of elements in the periodic table that share similar chemical properties.

Compound

A pure substance made of two or more different elements chemically joined together.

Chemical Bonds

The links that join atoms together in a compound.

Covalent Compound

A compound composed of non-metals that share electrons.

Ionic Compound

A compound formed by the exchange of electrons between a metal and a non-metal, consisting of a cation and an anion.

Binary Molecular Compound

A molecular compound that contains only two different non-metal elements.

Binary Ionic Compound

An ionic compound composed of only two different elements: a metal cation ($+$) and a nonmetal anion ($-$).

Polyatomic Ion

A group of atoms bonded together that has an overall positive or negative charge.

Ternary Ionic Compound

An ionic compound containing three or more types of elements, wherein one or both of the ions is a polyatomic ion.

Chemical Reaction

A process where one or more new substances with new chemical and physical properties are produced from starting materials.

Reactants

The starting materials in a chemical reaction (also known as reagents), written on the left side of the reaction arrow.

Products

The new substances produced in a chemical reaction, written on the right side of the reaction arrow.

Aqueous ($aq$)

A physical state describing a substance that is dissolved in water to form a solution.

Catalyst

A substance written above or below the reaction arrow that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up or produced.

Law of Conservation of Mass

The principle stating that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, meaning the total mass of the reactants always equals the total mass of the products.

Skeleton Equation

A bare-bones chemical equation written with correct chemical formulas for all reactants and products, but where the amounts of atoms are not yet balanced.

Balancing Coefficient

A whole number placed in front of a chemical formula in an equation that multiplies the number of atoms or molecules to balance the equation.

Formation Reaction

A chemical reaction in which two or more reactants combine to produce a single compound ($A + B \rightarrow AB$).

Decomposition Reaction

A chemical reaction in which a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler products or elements ($AB \rightarrow A + B$).

Single Replacement Reaction

A chemical reaction where an element and a compound react to form a new element and a new compound ($A + BX \rightarrow AX + B$ or $AX + Y \rightarrow AY + X$).

Double Replacement Reaction

A chemical reaction in which two ionic compounds exchange ions to form two new ionic compounds ($AY + BX \rightarrow AX + BY$).

Combustion Reaction

A chemical reaction where oxygen reacts with a hydrocarbon to produce carbon dioxide gas ($CO_2(g)$), water vapour ($H_2O(g)$), and energy.

Salt

Any ionic compound produced as a product of an acid-base neutralization reaction.

Reaction Rate

The speed of a chemical reaction; the speed at which reactants are converted into products.

Concentration

The amount of a chemical reactant present in a given volume of solution.