General Chemistry I - Chapter 1: Chemistry - Essentials Ideas

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 1: Chemistry – Essentials Ideas.

Chemistry

The study of the composition, properties, and interactions of matter.

Central science

Chemistry is a BLANK because it connects to many other STEM disciplines.

Macroscopic domain

Parts of chemistry dealing with what can be seen, touched, and measured directly.

Microscopic domain

The realm of atoms and molecules, often imagined; not directly observable.

Symbolic domain

The language of chemistry using symbols, formulas, and equations.

H2O

The chemical formula for water.

Phase notation

(g) for gas, (l) for liquid, (s) for solid.

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass.

Plasma

A gaseous state of matter containing charged particles; occurs at high temperatures.

Solid

Rigid state with a definite shape.

Liquid

Flows and takes the shape of its container.

Gas

Takes both the shape and volume of its container.

Atom

The smallest unit of an element that retains its properties and can enter into chemical bonds.

Molecule

Two or more atoms bonded together; can consist of the same or different elements.

Element

Pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical changes.

Compound

Pure substance composed of two or more elements chemically bonded; has properties different from its elements.

Pure substance

Matter with a constant composition, either an element or a compound.

Mixture

Matter composed of two or more substances that can be separated by physical means.

Homogeneous mixture

Uniform composition throughout; also called a solution.

Heterogeneous mixture

Nonuniform composition that varies from point to point.

Density

Mass per unit volume; a physical property.

Volume

Amount of space occupied; SI unit is cubic meter; common units include L and mL.

Mass

Amount of matter in an object.

SI base units

Meter (m) for length, kilogram (kg) for mass, kelvin (K) for temperature, second (s) for time.

Kelvin (K)

Absolute temperature scale; zero kelvin is absolute zero; no degree symbol used.

Celsius (°C)

Temperature scale with 0 °C at freezing and 100 °C at boiling; offset from Kelvin by 273.15.

Significant figures

Digits that carry meaning about precision; rules determine which digits are significant.

Dimensional analysis

A method using conversion factors to carry units through calculations to yield desired units.

Conversion factor

A ratio of equivalent quantities expressed in different units used in calculations.

Scientific notation

Expressing numbers as a coefficient between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of ten.

Accuracy

Closeness of a measurement to the true or accepted value.

Precision

Consistency of repeated measurements under the same conditions.

Extensive property

Property that depends on the amount of matter (e.g., mass, volume).

Intensive property

Property that does not depend on amount (e.g., density, temperature).

Mass vs weight

Mass is the amount of matter; weight is the gravitational force on that mass.

Law of conservation of matter

Matter is neither created nor destroyed in physical or chemical changes; total mass remains constant.

Qualitative vs quantitative observations

Qualitative: descriptions without numbers; quantitative: measurements with numbers.

Volume units relationship

1 L = 1 dm³ and 1 mL = 1 cm³ (derived from base units).