Chemical Reactions & Equations Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core definitions, indicators, and symbols from the Chemical Reactions & Equations lecture.

Chemical Reaction

The atomic-level process by which elements or compounds break and form chemical bonds to generate completely new substances.

Reactants

Starting materials written on the left side of a chemical equation that undergo transformation.

Products

Newly generated substances written on the right side of a chemical equation.

Yields Arrow ($\rightarrow$)

Symbol that separates reactants from products in a standard equation.

Double Arrow ($\leftrightarrow$)

Symbol indicating a state of dynamic equilibrium where the reaction proceeds in both directions.

Change in Color

An indicator that a new substance has formed during a chemical reaction, such as rusting iron steel.

Change in Temperature

An indicator of a chemical reaction where energy is absorbed or released when bonds break or form, such as wood combustion.

Formation of Gas

An indicator of a chemical reaction involving the evolution of gas bubbles upon mixing solutions, such as baking soda and vinegar reacting.

Precipitate

An insoluble solid that emerges when two aqueous solutions are combined and settles at the bottom.

Combustion

Rapid reaction of a substance with oxygen, releasing light and heat; hydrocarbon combustion consistently produces carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and water.

State of Matter Symbols

Notations in chemical equations indicating state, where $(s)$ = solid, $(l)$ = liquid, $(g)$ = gas, and $(aq)$ = aqueous state (dissolved in water).

Subscripts

Numbers within chemical formulas showing exact atom count that cannot be altered when balancing.

Coefficients

Numbers placed in front of chemical formulas representing the amount of molecules or moles.

Law of Conservation of Mass

Principle stating that atoms are neither created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction, only rearranged.