General Chemistry Review

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary and concepts related to General Chemistry, focusing on chemical bonding, periodic trends, molecular geometry, intermolecular forces, and acid/base chemistry.

Ionic Bonding

A type of chemical bond that involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions.

Covalent Bonding

A type of chemical bond where two atoms share electrons to achieve a full outer electron shell.

Periodic Trends

Patterns in the varying properties of elements as one moves across or down the periodic table, such as atomic radius and electronegativity.

Atomic Radius

The distance from the nucleus of an atom to the outermost electron shell; it typically decreases from left to right across a period and increases down a group.

Electronegativity (EN)

The tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond; generally increases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group.

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory (VSEPR)

A model used to predict the geometry of individual molecules from the number of electron pairs surrounding their central atoms.

Intermolecular Forces (IMFs)

Forces of attraction or repulsion between molecules, playing a key role in determining the physical properties of substances.

Hydrogen Bonding

A special type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when hydrogen is bonded to a highly electronegative atom like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine.

Dipole-Dipole Forces

Forces of attraction between oppositely charged ends of polar molecules.

Dispersion Forces

Weak attractions between molecules caused by temporary dipoles that occur when electron distributions shift.

Acid/Base Chemistry

The study of the characteristics of acids and bases, and their reactions, including the production of H+ and OH- ions in aqueous solution.