Classifying Compounds: Acids, Bases, and Chemical Reactions

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering acids, bases, indicators, chemical reactions, and related concepts.

Acid

A substance that releases H+ ions when dissolved in water.

Strong Acid

Acids found in laboratories and car batteries; they are corrosive and dangerous to touch.

Weak Acid

Mild acids found in food and household products; safe to handle.

Base

A substance that reacts with acids and absorbs H+ ions.

Alkali

A soluble base that releases OH- ions in solution.

pH Scale

A scale that measures the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, ranging from 0 to 14.

Indicator

Substances used to determine if a solution is acidic or basic, often changing color.

Neutral Substance

A substance with a pH of 7, which is neither acidic nor basic.

Exothermic Reaction

A reaction that releases energy to its surroundings, resulting in increased temperature.

Endothermic Reaction

A reaction that absorbs energy from its surroundings, leading to decreased temperature.

Chemical Bond

An attractive force that holds atoms together, formed or broken in chemical changes.

Combustion

A chemical change where a substance burns in the presence of oxygen.

Corrosion

The formation of compounds on the surface of a metal due to exposure to air or water.

Decomposition Reaction

A reaction where a compound breaks down into simpler substances.

Decomposition General Equation

AB → A+B

What is the product of this decomposition reaction? Calcium carbonate → ?

calcium oxide + carbon dioxide

Physical Change

A change in matter that does not result in new substances being formed.

Chemical Change

A change that forms one or more new substances by rearranging atoms.

Rusting

A specific type of corrosion involving iron and oxygen.

Solubility

The ability of a substance to dissolve in water.

Precipitate

An insoluble solid that forms from a chemical reaction in solution.

Hydroxide Ion

An ion that consists of one oxygen and one hydrogen atom (OH-).

Hydrogen Ion

An ion representing a proton (H+), crucial in defining acids.

Acid-Base Reaction/Neutralisation Reaction

A reaction where an acid reacts with a base to produce salt and water.

Activation Energy

The minimum energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Salt

A compound formed from the neutralisation reaction between an acid and a base. They are also known as ionic compounds.

Carbonate Reaction

A reaction involving an acid and a carbonate, producing salt, water, and carbon dioxide.

Acid-Base Indicator

Substances that change color depending on pH, used to identify acids and bases.

Galvanizing

A method of protecting metals from corrosion by coating with a more reactive metal.

Law of Conservation of Mass

States that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Incomplete Combustion

Occurs when there is insufficient oxygen, producing carbon monoxide or soot.

Complete Combustion

Occurs when there is enough oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water.

Sublimation

A physical change where a solid turns directly into a gas.

Evaporation

A physical change where a liquid turns into a gas.

Dissolution

A physical change where a solid dissolves into a liquid.

Melt

A physical change from solid to liquid.

Freeze

A physical change from liquid to solid.

Condensation

A physical change from gas to liquid.

Deposition

A physical change from gas to solid.

Physical Bond

An attractive force between particles that does not result in new particles being formed.

Combustion Equation

Hydrocarbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water.

Precipitation Reaction

Precipitation Reactions occur when two aqueous solutions containing salts/ionic compounds combine to create an insoluble solid salt called precipitate.

Precipitation Reaction General Equation

AB + CD → AD + BC

What is the product of this precipitation reaction: barium chloride + potassium sulfate → ?

barium sulfate + potassium chloride

Identify the exceptions to the rule that Chloride (Cl−) compounds are soluble.

Silver, Mercury and Lead

Most Carbonates (CO₃²⁻)are insoluble, except when bonded with which three specific metal ions?

Sodium, Potassium, Lithium

Predict the precipitate formed when Silver nitrate reacts with Sodium chloride

Silver chloride

Why is Sodium nitrate not the precipitate in the reaction between Silver Nitrate​ and Sodium Chloride?

All nitrates are soluble in water

Sodium Hydroxide

An alkali that releases Na+ and OH- ions when dissolved in water.

Ammonia

A base that does not contain metal; can act as an alkali in water.

Calcium Carbonate

A compound that reacts with acids to produce carbon dioxide among other products.

Carbon Dioxide Test

Using limewater to confirm the formation of carbon dioxide, indicated by chalkiness.

Hydrogen Chloride

A strong acid that dissociates in water to form H+ and Cl- ions.