Honors Chemistry 2025 Semester A Final Exam Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards derived from the topics covered in the Honors Chemistry review notes.

Scientific method

A systematic process for gathering data and testing hypotheses.

Qualitative data

Information that cannot be quantified and is descriptive in nature.

Quantitative data

Data that can be measured and expressed numerically.

Independent variable

The variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment.

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured and affected in an experiment.

Constants

Factors that remain fixed during an experiment.

Control

A standard for comparison in an experiment.

Significant figures

Digits in a number that carry meaningful information about its precision.

Density

Mass per unit volume of a substance, calculated as Density = mass/volume.

% error

A calculation that expresses the difference between an experimental value and a theoretical value as a percentage.

Chemical properties

Characteristics of a substance that become evident during a chemical reaction.

Physical properties

Characteristics that can be observed without changing the substance's identity.

States of matter

The distinct forms that different phases of matter take on: solid, liquid, gas.

Changes in state of matter

Transformation between solid, liquid, and gas states, such as melting and evaporating.

Substances

Matter with a uniform and unchanging composition.

Mixtures

Physical combinations of two or more substances that retain their individual properties.

Elements

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

Compounds

Substances formed when two or more elements chemically bond together.

Homogeneous mixtures

Mixtures with a uniform composition throughout.

Heterogeneous mixtures

Mixtures with a non-uniform composition.

Law of conservation of mass

Matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Subatomic particles

Particles that make up an atom, including protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Atomic number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element.

Mass number

The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.

Alpha radiation

Type of radiation consisting of helium nuclei emitted from radioactive substances.

Beta radiation

Type of radiation consisting of high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons.

Gamma radiation

High-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted during radioactive decay.

Half-life

The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Wave equation

An equation that relates the speed of a wave to its wavelength and frequency.

Bohr model

A model of the atom that describes electrons in fixed orbits around the nucleus.

Electron configurations

The distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals.

Valence electrons

Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding.

Lewis dot diagram

A representation of the valence electrons in an atom using dots.

VSEPR Theory

A model used to predict the shape of individual molecules based on electron-pair repulsion.

Ionic bonds

Chemical bonds formed through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.

Covalent bonds

Chemical bonds formed when two atoms share electrons.

Sigma bonds

Single covalent bonds formed by the head-on overlap of atomic orbitals.

Pi bonds

Covalent bonds formed by the side-on overlap of p-orbitals.

Reactants

Substances that undergo change in a chemical reaction.

Products

Substances that are formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Balancing chemical equations

The process of ensuring the same number of each type of atom on both sides of a chemical equation.

Synthesis reaction

A reaction in which two or more substances combine to form a new compound.

Decomposition reaction

A reaction in which a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler products.

Single replacement reaction

A reaction where one element replaces another in a compound.

Double replacement reaction

A reaction where the anions and cations of two different compounds exchange places.

Molar mass

The mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole.

Avogadro's number

The number of particles in one mole of a substance, approximately 6.022 x 10^23.

% composition

The percentage by mass of each element in a compound.