Chemical Reactions Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the GE-CHM 101 lecture presentation on Chemical Reactions.

Chemical Reaction

A process in which one or more reactants are converted into one or more products with different compositions.

Physical Change

A change that alters the physical state of a substance without changing its composition.

Chemical Change

A change that converts one substance into another by breaking bonds in reactants and forming new bonds in products.

Chemical Equation

A chemical shorthand for a chemical reaction showing reactants, products, coefficients, physical states, and special reaction conditions.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons, or alternatively, the gain of oxygen and/or loss of hydrogen.

Reduction

The gain of electrons, or alternatively, the loss of oxygen and/or gain of hydrogen.

Reduction-Oxidation (redox) Reaction

Any chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred from one species to another.

GEROA

A helpful mnemonic standing for Gain of Electrons, Reduction, Oxidizing Agent.

LEORA

A helpful mnemonic standing for Loss of Electrons, Oxidation, Reducing Agent.

Combustion

Burning in air; a reaction where complete combustion of carbon compounds produces $\text{CO}_2$ and $\text{H}_2\text{O}$.

Respiration

The process by which living organisms use $\text{O}_2$ to oxidize carbon-containing compounds to produce $\text{CO}_2$, $\text{H}_2\text{O}$, and energy.

Rusting

The oxidation of iron to a mixture of iron oxides, such as iron(III) oxide ($\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$).

Bleaching

The oxidation of colored compounds to products which are colorless.

Formula Weight (FW)

The sum of the atomic weights in atomic mass units ($\text{amu}$) of all atoms in a compound's formula.

Molecular Weight (MW)

The formula weight calculated specifically for molecular compounds.

Mole

The amount of substance that contains as many atoms, molecules, or ions as there are atoms in exactly $12\text{g}$ of carbon-12.

Avogadro's Number

The number of formula units in a mole, equal to $6.02214199 \times 10^{23}$ formula units per mole.

Molar Mass

The formula weight of a substance expressed in $\text{g/mol}$.

Stoichiometry

The study of mass relationships in chemical reactions.

Limiting Reagent

The reagent that is used up first in a chemical reaction.

Actual Yield

The mass of product formed in a chemical reaction and recovered in the laboratory.

Theoretical Yield

The mass of product that should form according to the stoichiometry of the balanced chemical equation.

Percent Yield

The ratio calculated by dividing the actual yield by the theoretical yield and multiplying by 100.