IGCSE Chemistry Glossary

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GCSE and IGCSE (Chemistry) GCSEs Fichas sobre IGCSE Chemistry Glossary, creado por Jade Lai el 19/11/2014.
Jade Lai
Fichas por Jade Lai, actualizado hace más de 1 año
Jade Lai
Creado por Jade Lai hace alrededor de 10 años
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Acetylene A gas (formula C²H²) used as a fuel, for example in the oxy-acetylene torch
Acid Rain Rain that is acidic because gases such as sulfur dioxide are dissolved in it (from burning fossil fuels)
Acidic Solution Has a pH less than 7; an acidic solution contains H+ ions
Acid Fermentation The process in which bacteria convert ethanol to ethanoic acid
Addition Reaction Where a molecule adds onto an alkene, and the C=C double bond of the alkene changes to a single bond
Addition Polymerisation Where small molecules join to form a very large molecule, by adding on at double bonds
Alcohols A family of organic compounds, similar to the alkanes but with the OH functional group; ethanol is example
Alkali A soluble base; for example sodium hydroxide
Alkali Metals The group I elements of the periodic table
Alkaline Earth Metals The group II elements of the periodic table
Alkaline Solution Has a pH above 7; alkaline solutions contain OH- ions
Alkanes A family of saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2; 'saturated' means they have only single C-C bonds
Alkenes A family of unsaturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n ; their molecules contain carbon=carbon double bond
Allotropes Different forms of an element; diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon
Alloy A mixture where at least one other substance is added to a metal, to improve its properties; the other substance is often a metal too (but not always)
Amphoteric Can be both acidic and basic in its reaction; for example aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide
Anion Another name for negative ion
Anode The positive electrode of a cell
Aquifer Underground rocks holding a large volume of water; it can be pumped out to give a water supply
Atmosphere The layer of gases around the Earth; here at the Earth's surface, we call it air
Atoms Elements are made up of atoms. which contain protons, neutrons and electrons
Avogadro Constant The number of particles in one mole of an element or compound; it is 6.02 x 10^23
Back Reaction The reaction in which the product breaks down again, in a reversible reaction
Bacteria Tiny organisms, some of which can cause disease; other break down dead plant and animal material
Balanced Equation A chemical equation in which the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides of the arrow
Base A metal oxide or hydroxide; a base will neutralise an acid, to form a salt and water
Battery A portable electrical cell; for example a torch battery
Biodegradable Will decay naturally in the soil, with the help of bacteria
Biopolymer A polymer made by bacteria
Blast Furnace The chemical plant in which iron is extracted from its ore, iron(III) oxide
Boiling The change from a liquid to a gas, which takes place at the boiling point
Boiling Point The temperature at which a substance boils
Bond Energy The energy needed to break a bond, or released when the bond is formed; it is given in kilojoules (kJ) per mole
Bonding How the atoms are held together in an element or compound; there are three types of bonds: ionic, covalent, and metallic
Brittle Breaks up easily when struck
Brine The industrial name for a concentrated solution of sodium chloride in water; it can be made by dissolving rock salt
Burette A piece of laboratory equipment for delivering a measured volume of liquid
Burning An exothermic chemical reaction in which the reactant combines with oxygen to form an oxide; also called combustion
Carbon Cycle The way carbon moves non-stop between the atmosphere, living things, the land, and the ocean; it moves in the form of carbon dioxide
Carboxylic Acids A family of organic acids, which have the COOH functional group; ethanoic acid is an example
Cast Iron Iron from the blast furnace that is run into molds to harden; it contains a high % of carbon, which makes it brittle
Catalyst A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, without itself being used up in the process
Catalytic Converter A device in a car exhaust, in which catalysts are used to convert harmful gases to harmless ones
Catalytic Cracking Where large molecules of hydrocarbons are split up into smaller ones, with the help of catalyst
Cathode The negative electrode of an electrolysis cell
Cation Another name for a positive ion
Cell (Biological) The building blocks for animals and plants
Cell (Electrical) A device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy
Cement A substance used in building, made from limestone and clay
Ceramic A hard, unreactive material that can withstand high temperatures, made by baking clay in a kiln; ceramics are non-conductors
Chalk A rock made of calcium carbonate
Change of State A change in the physical state of a substance - for example from solid to liquid, or liquid to gas
Chemical Change A change in which a new chemical substance forms
Chemical Equation Uses chemical symbols to describe a chemical reaction in a short way
Chemical Reaction A process in which chemical change takes place
Chromatogram The paper showing the separated coloured substances, after paper chromatography has been carried out
Climate Change How climates around the earth are changing, because of the rise in average air temperatures
Coagulant A substance that will make small particles stick together; coagulants are used in cleaning up water, ready for piping to homes
Coke A form of carbon made by heating coal
Combination Where two or more substances react to form a single substance
Combustible Can catch fire and burn very easily
Combustion Another name for burning
Compound Fertiliser It provides nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus for plants
Compound Ion An ion containing more than one element; for example the nitrate ion NO3-
Compound A substance in which two or more elements are chemically combined
Concentration Tells you how much of one substance is dissolved in another; usually given as grams or moles per dm^3
Condensation The physical change in which a gas turns into a liquid on cooling
Condensation Polymerisation Where molecules join to make very large molecules, by elimenating small molecules (such as water molecules)
Condenser A piece of laboratory equipment used to cool a gas rapidly, and turn it into a liquid
Conductor A substance that allows heat or electricity to pass through it easily
Contact Process The industrial process for making sulfuric acid
Corrosion Where a substance is attacked by air or water, from the surface inwards; the corrosion of iron is called rusting
Covalent Bond The chemical bond formed when two atoms share electrons
Covalent Compound A compound made of atoms joined by covalent bonds
Cracking Reactions in which long-chain hydrocarbon molecules are broken down to shorter, more useful molecules
Cross-linking The chemical bonds between the long-chain molecules in some polymers, that hold the chains together
Crude Oil The fossil fuel formed over millions of years from the remains of tiny sea plants and animals; it is also called petroleum
Crystallisation The process in which crystal form, as a saturated solution cools
Decomposition Reaction Where a substance breaks down to give two or more products
Denature To destroy the structure of an enzyme by heat, or a change in pH
Degradeable Will break down naturally (for example through the action of bacteria)
Density Tells you how 'heavy' something is; the density of a substance is its mass per unit volume; for water it is 1g/cm3
Diatomic A substance is called diatomic if its molecules contain two atoms joined by a covalent bond
Diffusion The process in which particles mix by colliding randomly with each other, and bouncing off in all direction
Displacement Reaction A reaction in which a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive one, in a compound
Dissolving The process in which a soluble substance forms a solution
Distillation Separating a liquid from a mixture by boiling it off, then condensing it
Double bond A covalent bond in which two atoms share two pairs of electrons
Ductile Can be drawn out into a wire; for example copper is ductile
Dynamic Equilibrium Where forward and back reactions take place at the same rate, so there is no overall change
Electrodes The conductors used to carry current into and out of an electrolyte; they could be graphite rods, for example
Electrolysis The process of breaking down a compound by passing a current through it
Electrolyte The liquid through which the current is passed, in electrolysis; the current is carried by ions in the electrolyte
Electron Distribution / Configuration How the electrons in an atom are arranged in shells (2 + 8 + ......)
Electron Shells The different energy levels which electrons occupy, around the nucleus
Electrons The particles with a charge of 1- and almost no mass, in an atom
Electroplating Coating one metal with another, using electrolysis
Element A substance that cannot be split into anything simpler, in a chemical reaction
Empirical Formula Shows the simplest ratio in which the atoms in a compound are combined
Endothermic Takes in energy from the surroundings
Enzymes Proteins made by living cells, that act as biological catalysts
Equation It uses symbols to describe a chemical reaction (but a word equation uses just words)
Equilibrium The state where the forward and back reactions are taking place at the same rate, in a reversible reaction; so there is no overall change
Ester A compound formed when an alcohol reacts with carboxylic acid; ester often smell of fruit or flowers
Evapouration The physical change where a liquid turns to a gas at a temperature below its boiling point
Exothermic Gives out energy
Extract To remove a metal from its ore
Fermentation The process in which the enzyme in yeast break down sugars, to form ethanol and carbon dioixde
Fertilisers Substances added to soil to help crops grow well
Filtering Separating solids from liquids by pouring the mixture through filter paper
Filtrate The liquid obtained from filtration (after the solid has been removed)
Flammable Burns easily
Flue Gas Desulfurisation The removal of sulfur dioxide from the waste gases at power stations, to stop it getting into the atmosphere
Formula Uses symbols and numbers to tell you what elements are in a compound, and the ratio in which they are combined
Forward Reaction The reaction in which the product is made, in a reversible reaction
Fossil Fuels Petroleum (crude oil), natural gas, and coal; they are called fossil fuels because they were formed from the remains of living things, millions of years ago
Fractional Distillation A method used to separate two or more liquids that have different boiling points
Fractions The different groups of compounds that a mixture is separated into, by fractional distillation; fractions are collected one by one
Freezing The change from liquid to solid, that occurs at the freezing point (= melting point)
Fuel A substance we use to provide energy; most fuels are burned to release their energy (but nuclear fuels are not)
Functional Group The part of the molecule of an organic compound, that largely dictates how it reacts; for example the OH group in molecules of the alcohol family
Galvanising Coating iron with zinc, to prevent the iron from rusting
Giant Structure Where a very large number of atoms or ions are held in a lattice by strong bonds; metals, diamond and ionic solids such as sodium chloride are all giant structures
Global Warming The rise in average temperature taking place around the world; many scientists believe that carbon dioxide (from burning fossil fuels) is the main cause
Greenhouse Gas A gas in the atmosphere that traps heat, preventing its escape into space; carbon dioxide and methane are examples
Group A column of the Periodic Table; elements in a group have similar properties
Haber Process The process for making ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen, in industry
Half-equation An equation that shows the reaction taking place at an electrode
Halogens The Group VII elements of the Periodic Table
Heating Curve A graph that showing how the temperature of a substance changes on heating, while it goes from solid to liquid to gas
Homologous Series A family of organic compounds, that share the same general formula and have similar properties
Hydrated Has water molecules built into its crystal structure; for example copper (II) sulfate: CuSO4 . 5H2O
Hydrocarbon A compound containing only carbon and hydrogen
Hydrogen Fuel Cell It uses the reaction between hydrogen (from a tank), and oxygen (from the air), to give an electric current
Hydrolysis The breaking down of a compound by reaction with water
Hypothesis A statement you can test by doing an experiment and taking measurements
Incomplete Combustion The burning of fuels in a limited supply of oxygen; it gives carbon monoxide instead of carbon dioxide
Indicator A chemical that shows by its colour whether a substance is acidic or alkaline
Inert Does not react (except under extreme conditions)
Inert Electrode Is not changed during electrolysis; all it does is conduct the current
In Excess More than is needed for a reaction; some will be left at the end
Insoluble Does not dissolve in a solvent
Insulator A poor conductor of heat or electricity
Intermolecular Forces Forces between molecules
Ion A charged atom or groups of atoms formed by the gain or loss of electrons
Ionic Bond The bond formed between ions of opposite charge
Ionic Compound A compound made up of ions, joined by ionic bonds
Ionic Equation Shows only the ions that actually take part in a reaction, and ignores any other ions present; the other ions are called spectators ions
Isomers Compounds that have the same formula, but a different arrangement of atoms
Isotopes Atoms of the same element, that have different numbers of neutrons
Lattice A regular arrangement of particles
Lime The common name for calcium oxide
Limewater A solution of the slightly soluble compound calcium hydroxide, which is used to test for carbon dioxide
Locating Agent Used to show up colourless substances, in chromatography; it reacts with them to give coloured substance e.g. : ninhydrin
Macromolecule A very large molecule; for example a molecule in a polymer
Malleable Can be bent or hammered into shape
Mass Spectrometer An instrument used to find the masses of atoms and molecules
Melting Point The temperature at which a solid substance melts
Melting The physical change from a solid to a liquid
Metal An element that shows metallic properties (for example conducts electricity, and forms positive ions)
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