Topic 1 Particles and mixtures

Solid

A state of matter with strong forces of attraction, particles close together in a fixed shape, which can only vibrate in their fixed position.

Liquid

A state of matter with weak forces of attraction, particles that stick closely together and move randomly.

Gas

A state of matter with very weak forces of attraction, particles that are far apart and constantly moving randomly, without a defined shape or volume.

Freezing

The process where a liquid turns into a solid.

Melting

The process where a solid turns into a liquid.

Condensing

The process where a gas turns into a liquid.

Sublimation

The process where a solid turns directly into a gas without becoming a liquid.

Evaporating

The process where a liquid turns into a gas.

Diffusion

The movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Saturated Solution

A solution where the maximum amount of solute has been dissolved, and no more solute can be dissolved.

Solute

The substance that is being dissolved in a solution.

Solvent

The liquid in which the solute is dissolved.

Solubility

The ability of a solute to dissolve in a solvent at a specific temperature.

Atomic Mass

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Mass Number

The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Ion

An atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Nucleus

The central part of an atom containing protons and neutrons.

Element

A pure substance that consists of only one type of atom.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more different elements are chemically bonded together.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded and can be separated physically.

Filtration

A separation technique used to separate insoluble solids from liquids.

Crystallization

A process used to separate a soluble solid from a solution by evaporating the solvent.

Simple Distillation

A method to separate a solution based on the different boiling points of its components.

Fractional Distillation

A technique for separating a mixture of liquids into its individual components based on their boiling points.

Chromatography

A method used to separate mixtures by passing them through a medium in which the components move at different rates.

Rf Value

The ratio of the distance travelled by the solute to the distance travelled by the solvent.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Relative Abundance

The proportion of each isotope of an element found in a sample.

Ammonium Chloride

A white solid formed when ammonia gas and hydrogen chloride gas react.

Bromine Diffusion

The process by which bromine gas spreads through air after the separation barrier is removed.

Potassium Magnate Experiment

An experiment demonstrating diffusion using potassium magnate and water.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles that orbit around the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A neutral particle located in the nucleus of an atom.

Proton

A positively charged particle located in the nucleus of an atom.

Dilution

The process of reducing the concentration of a solute in a solution.