Inorganic chem

Alkali metals

Comprise the highly reactive group 1 elements which typically forms +1 cations.

Alkaline Earth metals

Comprise the reactive group 2 elements which form +2 cations.

Transition metals

Comprise the elements in the middle of the table with different chemical properties and form different types of ions.

Pnictogens

Comprise the group 15 elements known to form compounds inhibiting respiration, hence the origin of the term pnictogen, from the Greek word pnigein, which means to choke.

Chalcogens

Comprise the group 16 elements known to form compound with many metals, hence the origin of the term chalcogen from the Greek words chalkos and genos, meaning ore-forming.

Halogens

Comprise the highly reactive group 17 elements which typically form -1 anions.

Noble gases

Comprise the non-reactive group 18 elements with stable electron configurations.

Lanthanides

A group of metal elements placed at the bottom of the periodic table.

Actinides

A group of radioactive elements placed at the bottom of the periodic table.

pH

A measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution based on the concentration of hydrogen ions present ranging from 0-14.

pOH

A measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution based on the concentration of hydroxide ions present.

Acidic

A solution with a pH less than 7 due to a high concentration of hydrogen ions (H+).  

Basic (alkaline)

A solution with a pH greater than 7 due to a low concentration of hydrogen ions (H+).

Neutral

A solution with a pH of 7 due to an equal concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-).

Buffer solution

A solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added. 

Acid dissociation constant (Ka)

A measure of the strength of an acid in a solution based on the extent to which it dissociates.

Base dissociation constant (Kb)

A measure of the strength of a base in a solution based on the extent to which it dissociates.

Acid-base indicator       

A substance that changes color depending on the pH of a solution.                            

Strong Acid

An acid that fully dissociates in water, resulting in a high concentration of hydrogen ions (H+).                  

Weak Acid

An acid that only partially dissociates in water, resulting in a lower concentration of hydrogen ions (H+).        

Strong Base       

A base that fully dissociates in water, resulting in a high concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-).

Weak Base        

A base that only partially dissociates in water, resulting in a lower concentration of hydroxide                    ions (OH-).

Bronsted-Lowry Acid

A substance that donates a proton (H+) to another substance in a chemical reaction.

Lewis Acid

A substance that accepts a pair of electrons in a chemical reaction.

Arrhenius Acid

A substance that donates hydrogen ions (H+) in an aqueous solution.

Bronsted-Lowry Base 

A substance that accepts a proton (H+) from another substance in a chemical reaction.

Lewis Base

A substance that donates a pair of electrons in a chemical reaction.

Arrhenius Base

A substance that donates hydroxide ions (OH-) in an aqueous solution.