A History of Chemistry - Fundamentals of Chemistry (Vol. I) - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the provided notes on the history and fundamentals of chemistry.

Alchemy

A medieval precursor to chemistry aiming to transform substances (e.g., metals into gold) and discover the philosopher’s stone; rooted in Hermetic and magical traditions and later yields to empirical chemistry.

Pneumatic Chemistry

A branch of early chemistry focused on gases and air-like substances, leading to the study of gaseous states.

Phlogiston

Hypothetical subtle substance released during combustion; used to explain burning, later debunked by Lavoisier.

Sceptical Chymist

Robert Boyle’s 1661 work that criticized older theories and championed mechanical philosophy and experimental methods; foundational to modern chemistry.

Lavoisier

French chemist whose work catalyzed the chemical revolution; established conservation of mass, helped define oxygen, and linked observation to theory.

Gas

A state or substance with no fixed shape or volume; the term and concept arose from studies of air-like substances, first labeled by van Helmont.

Element

A primitive, simple substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by chemical means; concept refined over time and formalized by Lavoisier.

Atom

The fundamental indivisible unit of matter according to atomistic theory; foundational concept refined from ancient thinkers to modern chemistry.

Molecule

The smallest unit of a compound that retains its chemical properties, composed of bonded atoms.

Periodic Table

Systematic arrangement of elements by recurring chemical properties and the periodic law; developed and perfected by scientists like Mendeleev.

Thermodynamics

Science of energy, heat, and work in physical and chemical processes; includes the fundamental laws governing these quantities.

Thermochemistry

Branch of thermodynamics studying heat changes that accompany chemical reactions.

Chemical Affinity

Historical concept describing the tendency of substances to combine; used before modern bonding theories to explain reactions.

Reaction Kinetics

Study of the rates of chemical reactions and the factors that influence them.

Catalysis

Acceleration of a chemical reaction by a substance (a catalyst) that is not consumed in the process.

States of Matter

The three fundamental physical states—gas, liquid, and solid—characterized by distinct particle arrangements and properties.

Valence Theory

Early framework explaining how atoms bond by considering their combining capacities (valence) in forming compounds.

Spectroscopic Analysis

Techniques that examine how substances absorb, emit, or scatter light to identify composition, including spectral analysis, color analysis, and X-ray diffraction.

Stereochemistry

Branch of chemistry concerned with the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in molecules and the study of isomers and spatial geometry.

Electrochemistry

Study of chemical processes that involve electric energy, such as electrolysis and battery reactions.