Advanced Chemistry: Unit 1 Vocabulary

Macromolecule

Large molecule made of many atoms/elements

Atom

single unit of an element; has a nucleus with protons and neutrons and an electron cloud

Molecule

Groups of elements/atoms bonded together; it has different proprties than the elements that created it.

Element

Type of matter; it has unique properties

ions

atoms with extra or missing electrons

charge

either positive or negative; opposites attract; created by an imbalance of electrons and protons

cation

positive ions; missing some electrons; protons>electrons

electrolytes

charged ions; conducts current

polar

partial charges on opposite ends

surface tension

molecules at the surface of the water are pulled inwards creating a bead/droplet; water tries to minimize its surface area

solvent

the dissolving medium in a solution

solute

dissolved particles in a solution

solution

A mixture that forms when one substance dissolves another.

aqueous solutions

Solutions where water is the solvent.

nonelectrolyte

a compound that does not conduct an electric current in aqueous solution or in the molten state

exoplanet

a planet that orbits a star outside the solar system

habitable zone

the region around a star in which planets could potentially have surface temperatures at which liquid water could exist; Also known as Goldilocks Zone

Ionic Compound

Break into ions in aqueous solution; conducts electricity

Covalent Compound

a compound that sometimes dissolves in water; but sometimes it doesn't; can be polar or nonpolar; does not conduct electricity

specific heat capacity

the energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius

heat

The energy transferred between objects that are at different temperatures

surfactant

a substance that tends to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved.