Grade 11 General Science: Chemical Reactions, Equations, and Biological Processes

Vocabulary flashcards covering chemical vs physical changes, equations, conservation of mass, reaction types, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, metabolism, and fermentation.

Chemical Reaction

A process where starting substances (reactants) transform into new substances (products) with different chemical properties.

Physical Change

A change in which a material alters its form or appearance (such as shape, size, or state), but no new substance is formed.

Chemical Change

A change in which substances transform into new substances with different properties, often accompanied by color change, temperature change, gas production, or odor change.

Reactants

The starting materials undergoing a chemical reaction, written on the left side of the reaction arrow.

Products

The new substances formed in a chemical reaction, written on the right side of the reaction arrow.

Chemical Equation

The chemist's shorthand representation for describing the course of a chemical reaction using chemical formulas and symbols.

Law of Conservation of Mass

A fundamental scientific law dating back to Antoine Lavoisier's 1789 discovery stating that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, meaning the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

Reversible Reaction Symbol

A notation consisting of two arrows pointing in opposite directions written on top of each other, indicating that a reaction can proceed in both forward and reverse directions.

Aqueous Notation $(aq)$

A phase notation in a chemical equation indicating that a substance is dissolved in water.

Coefficient

A multiplier placed before a whole chemical formula in an equation to balance the number of atoms on both sides of the arrow.

Subscript

A small number within a chemical formula indicating the count of atoms of an element, which must never be changed when balancing an equation.

Decomposition Reaction

A reaction type where one complex compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances, following the general pattern $AB \rightarrow A + B$.

Acid-Carbonate Reaction

A reaction in which an acid reacts with a carbonate compound to produce a salt, water, and carbon dioxide gas ($CO_2$).

Acid-Metal Reaction

A reaction in which an acid reacts with a metal to produce a salt and hydrogen gas ($H_2$).

Combustion Reaction

A rapid chemical reaction in which a fuel substance reacts quickly with oxygen ($O_2$), releasing energy in the form of heat and light.

Photosynthesis

The biological process occurring in chloroplasts where plants use light energy, carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), and water ($H_2O$) to produce glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$) and oxygen ($O_2$).

Cellular Respiration

The process occurring in mitochondria where cells break down glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$) using oxygen ($O_2$) to release usable energy ($ATP$), carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), and water ($H_2O$).

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur inside the cells of a living organism to maintain life and support cellular activities.

Anabolism

The metabolic phase of 'building up' complex molecules from simpler ones using energy, such as building muscle tissue.

Catabolism

The metabolic phase of 'breaking down' complex molecules into simpler ones to release energy, such as during digestion.

Fermentation

A biological process and metabolic pathway allowing microorganisms to obtain energy from glucose when oxygen is limited.

Alcoholic Fermentation

A specific fermentation pathway carried out by yeast that converts glucose into ethanol ($C_2H_5OH$), carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), and energy ($C_6H_{12}O_6 \rightarrow 2C_2H_5OH + 2CO_2 + \text{Energy}$).