Chemistry Fundamentals: Properties, Measurements, and Significant Figures

A set of flashcards covering physical vs. chemical properties, measurements, SI units, and significant figures, based on the lecture notes.

What is the difference between physical properties and chemical properties?

Physical properties describe a substance's size, shape, or phase without changing its chemical identity (e.g., density, color, melting/boiling points); chemical properties describe how it reacts or bonds with other substances, indicating a chemical change.

What indicates a chemical property in a description of a substance?

Mention of a chemical change or reaction, such as terms like 'burns' or 'reacts,' which imply a change in chemical identity.

What is an intensive property?

A property that does not depend on the amount of material present (e.g., density, temperature, boiling point).

What is an extensive property?

A property that depends on the amount of material present (e.g., mass, volume, total heat).

What is an example of a physical change versus a chemical change in water?

Physical change: water condenses from gas to liquid without changing bonding; Chemical change: rusting of iron or burning substances involves new bonds.

What is the SI unit for length?

Meter (m).

What is the SI unit for mass and its standard reference?

Kilogram (kg); one kilogram equals 1000 grams.

What is the relationship between liters and milliliters?

1 liter = 1000 milliliters; 1 cubic centimeter (cm^3) = 1 milliliter (mL).

What are significant figures?

Digits that carry meaning about measurement precision. Rules: leading zeros are not significant; zeros between nonzero digits are significant; trailing zeros after a decimal point are significant; trailing zeros before a decimal point are ambiguous (not significant in this class).

What are the rules for significant figures when adding or subtracting?

The result should be reported to the least precise decimal place among the numbers being added or subtracted.

What are the rules for significant figures when multiplying or dividing?

The result should have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the fewest significant figures.

What is the rounding rule when the dropped digit is less than five, exactly five, or greater than five?

If less than 5, round down; if greater than 5, round up; if exactly 5, round to make the last kept digit even (round half to even).

What is a meniscus and how is it read in a graduated cylinder?

The curved surface of a liquid in a cylinder; read the measurement at the bottom of the meniscus for accuracy.

What are the common temperature scales and their freezing/boiling points for water?

Celsius: 0°C (freezing) and 100°C (boiling) at 1 atm; Fahrenheit: 32°F (freezing) and 212°F (boiling); Kelvin: 0 K (absolute zero); K = C + 273.15.

What is density?

Density is mass per unit volume (density = mass/volume).