Chemistry
the study of the composition, structure, and properties of matter, the processes that matter undergoes, and the energy changes that accompany these processes.
Organic chemistry
the study of most carbon-containing compound
Inorganic chemistry
the study of non-organic substances, many of which have organic fragments bonded to metals (organometallics)
Physical chemistry
the study of the properties and changes of matter and their relation to energy
Analytical chemistry
the identification of substances and processes occurring in living things
Biochemistry
the study of substances and processes occurring in living things
Theoretical chemistry
the use of mathematics and computers to understand the principles behind observed chemical behavior and to design and predict the properties of new compounds
Chemical
any substance that has a definite composition
Basic research
goal: increase of knowledge
how and why specific reactions occur and what the properties of a substance are
Applied research
goal: to solve a specific problem
Technological development
production and use of products that improve our quality of life
Volume
the amount of three dimensional space an object occupies
Mass
a measure of the amount of matter
Matter
anything that has mass and takes up space
Atom
the smallest unit of an element that maintains the chemical identity of that element
Element
a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler, stable substances and is made of one type of atom
Compound
a substance that can be broken down into simple stable substances and is made from two or more elements that are chemically bonded
Extensive properties
depend on the amount of matter that is present (i.e. volume, mass, and the amount of energy in a substance)
Inextensive properties
do NOT depend on the amount of matter present (i.e. melting point, boiling point, density, and ability to conduct energy)
Physical properties
a characteristic that can be observed or measured without changing the identity of the substance
(describe the substance itself, rather then how it can change into other substances) (i.e. melting and boiling points)
Physical change
a change in a substance that does not involve a change in the identity of the substance (i.e grinding, cutting, melting, and boiling a material) (energy is always involved)
Change of state
a physical change of a substance from one state to another
Solid
matter with a definite volume and definite shape
Liquid
matter with a definite volume but and indefinite shape
Gas
matter with neither a definite volume or shape
Plasma
a high temperature physical change of matter in which atoms lose most of their electrons, particles that make up atoms (fourth state of matter)
Chemical property
relates to a substance's ability to undergo changes that transform it into different substance
Chemical change/reaction
a change in which one or more substances are converted into different substances (energy is always involved)
Reactants
the substance that react in a chemical change
Products
the substances that are formed by the chemical change
Mixture
a blend of two or more kinds of matter, each of which retains its own identity and properties (simply mixed together physically, the properties of a mixture are a combination of the properties of it's components)
Homogeneous/Solutions
a mixture that is uniform composition (same proportion of components throughout)
Heterogeneous
a mixture that is NOT uniform in composition (i.e. clay and water where clay sinks to the bottom)
Pure substances
they're homogeneous and have a fixed composition. a pure substance differs from a mixture because every sample of a given one has exactly the same characteristic properties and the same composition
Groups/Families
the VERTICAL columns of the periodic table (1-18). each group contains elements with similar chemical properties (determined by number of valence electrons)
Periods
the HORIZONTAL row of elements in the periodic table (1-7)
Lanthanide series
element 57-71 (top row of f series)
Actinide series
elements 89-103 (bottom row of f series)
Metal
an element that is a good electrical conductor and a good heat conductor
properties of metals
shininess/metallic luster
easily conduct/transfer energy
malleable (they can be hammered/rolled into sheets)
ductile (they can be drawn into fine wires)
high tensile strength (ability to resist breaking when being pulled)
Non-metal
an element that is a poor conductor of heat and electricity (often gases at room temperature)
Metalloid
an element that has some characteristics of metals and some characteristics of nonmetals (all metalloids are solids at room temperature)
Noble Gases
the element in group 18 which are generally unreactive (gases at room temperature)