Basic Chemical Concepts and Measurements

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabularies related to basic chemical concepts, properties of matter, measurements, significant figures, and dimensional analysis.

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass.

Atoms

The almost infinitely small building blocks of matter.

Molecules

Two or more atoms joined together in specific shapes.

Substance

A form of matter with a definite composition and distinct properties.

Element

A unique kind of atom that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances.

Compound

A substance composed of two or more elements that can be broken down into simpler substances.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances that are physically combined but not chemically bonded.

Heterogeneous mixture

A mixture with a non-uniform composition, where the components can be easily distinguished.

Homogeneous mixture

A mixture that is uniform throughout; the components are not easily distinguishable.

Physical Property

A property observed without altering the identity and composition of the substance.

Intensive Property

A property that does not depend on the amount of substance present, e.g., boiling point.

Extensive Property

A property that depends on the amount of substance present, e.g., mass.

Chemical Property

The property that describes how a substance may change or react to form other substances.

Significant Figures

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

Dimensional Analysis

A method used to convert one system of units to another involving unit factors.

Mole

A unit used to measure the amount of substance, equivalent to 6.022 × 10²³ particles.

Avogadro’s Number

The number of particles (atoms, molecules, ions) in one mole of a substance.

Molar Mass

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

Exponential Notation

A way to express numbers that are very large or very small using a base and an exponent.