Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Fusion: The process by which a
solid becomes a liquid. Also,
nuclear fusion is the process by
which two or more lighter
nuclei combine to form a
heavier nucleus.
Graham's Law: States that under
equal conditions of temperature
and pressure, gases diffuse at a
rate that is inversely
proportional to the square roots
of their molecular masses.
Gravitational potential energy:
The “stored” energy that an
object has due to its mass and
its height above a reference
point.
Heterogeneous mixture: Two or
more substances physically
mixed together, without uniform
distribution of particles.
Homogeneous mixture: Two or
more substances physically
mixed together, with uniform
distribution of particles. Also
called a solution.
Hydrocarbon: A compound that
contains hydrogen and oxygen.
Intensive property: A property of
a substance that is not
dependent upon the size of the
sample, such as density and
color.
Intermolecular force: A force
between the individual
molecules of a substance.
Ion: An atom, or a group of
covalently bonded atoms, that
has obtained a charge by either
gaining or losing one or more
electrons.
Ionic bond: A bond formed from
the electrostatic attraction
between ions with different
charges.
Ionic compound: Two or more
elements held together by ionic
bonds.
Ionization energy: The energy
required to remove the most
loosely held electron from an
atom.
Isomers: Two or more compounds
that have the same molecular
formula but different structural
formulas.
Isotopes: Atoms of the same
element with different numbers
of neutrons and different mass
numbers.
Kelvin: A temperature scale based
on the concept of “absolute
zero.” There are no negative
values in this scale.
Kernel: A term referring to the
nucleus of an atom and all of
the electrons other than those
in the valence shell.
Kinetic energy: The energy that an
object has due to its motion.
Lewis acid: A substance that
accepts a pair of electrons to
form a covalent bond.
