General Chemistry: Matter, Measurements, and Calculations Flashcards

A comprehensive collection of vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering states of matter, physical/chemical properties, classification of matter, metric units, scientific notation, temperature scales, significant figures, dimensional analysis, and density.

Chemistry

The study of matter.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

Solid

The most ordered state of matter, which is rigid and possesses a definite shape and a definite volume.

Liquid

The middle ordered state of matter whose particles can partially slide past one another, possessing a definite volume and an indefinite shape.

Gas

The most disordered state of matter, which is compressible and has an indefinite shape and an indefinite volume.

Physical Property

A property or change that describes matter without affecting its chemical composition (e.g., boiling point).

Chemical Property

A property or change that alters or affects the chemical composition of matter (e.g., flammability, toxicity, combustion).

Element

A fundamental building block of matter listed on the periodic table that cannot be broken down chemically into simpler substances.

Compound

A pure substance composed of two or more different elements chemically combined in fixed proportions that can be broken down into individual elements chemically.

Atom

The basic building block of elements and compounds.

Molecule

A chemical structure composed of two or more atoms bound together.

Pure Substance

A form of matter that has fixed composition and distinct properties, consisting of only a single element or compound (e.g., $\text{Na}$, $\text{O}_2$, $\text{H}_2\text{O}$).

Mixture

Matter composed of two or more different pure substances physically combined.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture that is uniform in composition throughout, also referred to as a solution (e.g., soft drinks, IV solution, tea).

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture that is non-uniform in composition throughout (e.g., blood, steak, oil and water).

Scientific Notation

A mathematical method of expressing numbers in the form $A \times 10^x$, where $1 \le A < 10$ and $x$ represents the number of places the decimal point was moved.

Base Units (Metric System)

The standard metric units of measurement: Meter ($\text{m}$) for length, Gram ($\text{g}$) for mass, Liter ($\text{L}$) for volume, and Second ($\text{s}$) for time.

Kilo- ($\text{k}$)

A metric prefix representing an exponential multiplier of $10^3$ ($1000$ times the base unit).

Milli- ($\text{m}$)

A metric prefix representing an exponential multiplier of $10^{-3}$ ($\frac{1}{1000}$ of the base unit).

Micro- ($\mu$ or $\text{mc}$)

A metric prefix representing an exponential multiplier of $10^{-6}$ ($\frac{1}{1,000,000}$ of the base unit).

Absolute Temperature Scale

The Kelvin ($\text{K}$) scale, which has no negative temperature values and sets $0\,\text{K}$ as absolute zero, where no molecular motion occurs.

Celsius to Fahrenheit Conversion

The formula used to convert temperature from degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit: $^\circ\text{F} = \frac{9}{5}(^\circ\text{C}) + 32$.

Celsius to Kelvin Conversion

The formula used to convert temperature from degrees Celsius to Kelvin: $\text{K} = ^\circ\text{C} + 273$.

Exact Numbers

Numbers derived from definitions or counting units that have no uncertainty and are not considered when determining the number of significant figures to report.

Inexact Numbers

Numbers obtained from measurements using a tool or device that possess inherent uncertainty.

Significant Figures

The meaningful digits in a measured or calculated quantity that reflect the level of precision of the measuring instrument.

Addition and Subtraction Sig Fig Rule

The calculation rule requiring the final result to be rounded to the fewest number of decimal places found in any of the original numbers.

Multiplication and Division Sig Fig Rule

The calculation rule requiring the final result to be rounded to the fewest number of significant figures found in any of the original numbers.

Dimensional Analysis

A problem-solving method that uses units to convert between quantities by arranging conversion factors to cross-cancel unwanted units.

Density

The mass per unit volume of a substance, defined mathematically as $\text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}}$.

Calculation Decision Tree

A flowchart that categorizes chemistry problem-solving into equation problems versus dimensional analysis problems to determine the correct step-by-step procedure.