Chemical Reactions

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts from the lecture on chemical reactions.

Chemical Reaction

A process in which chemical bond(s) are broken and/or new bonds are made, resulting in the formation of one or more new substances.

Reactants and Products

In a chemical reaction, the substances on the left-hand side of the reaction arrow are called reactants, and those on the right-hand side are called products.

Balanced Equation

An equation in which the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides, adhering to the law of conservation of mass.

Coefficient

A number placed before a chemical formula in an equation to indicate how many units of the substance are involved in the reaction.

Exothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat, light, electricity, or mechanical energy.

Hydrogenation

A reaction involving the addition of hydrogen to an unsaturated compound, converting it to a saturated compound.

Dehydration Reaction

A reaction in which water is removed from a substance, often leading to the formation of a double bond.

Hydrolysis

A reaction involving the addition of water to break a bond in a molecule, often forming an acid and an alcohol.

Synthesis Reaction

A reaction in which two or more reactants combine to form a single product.

Single-Replacement Reaction

A reaction in which one element replaces another element in a compound.

Double-Replacement Reaction

A reaction where two compounds exchange ions or bonds to form two new compounds.

Redox Reaction

A chemical reaction involving the transfer of electrons between two species, comprising oxidation and reduction.