Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Positive ion: An atom that has lost
one or more electrons.
Potential energy: The “stored”
energy that an object has due to
its position relative to some
reference point.
Precipitate: A solid deposit that
forms when a substance comes
out of a solution.
Proton: A positively charged
particle found in the nucleus of
an atom. The number of
protons in the nucleus of an
atom will determine its identity.
Redox reaction: An oxidation-
reduction reaction, where one
substance is oxidized and
another is reduced.
Reducing agent: The substance
that appears to cause a
reduction to occur, by donating
electrons, or appearing to
donate electrons.
Reduction: When a substance
gains electrons or appears to
gain electrons, as its oxidation
number is algebraically
reduced.
Saturated solution: A solution that
is currently holding as much
solute as it can under current
conditions.
SI: An abbreviation for the
International System of
Measurements.
Single replacement reaction: A
chemical reaction in which a
free element replaces a similar
element from a compound.
Solidification: The process by
which a liquid becomes a solid.
Solubility: The ability of a
substance to dissolve into
another substance.
Solute: The part of a solution that
gets dissolved into the solvent.
Solution: Another name for a
homogeneous mixture.
Solvent: The part of a solution into
which the solute is dissolved.
Sublimation: The process by which
a solid changes to the gas phase
directly, without passing
through the liquid phase.
Substance: A form of matter with
constant composition.
Supersaturated solution: A
solution that is holding more
solute then it normally can
under current conditions.
Synthesis reaction: A chemical
reaction in which two or more
simpler substances form a more
complex substance.
Temperature: A measure of the
average kinetic energy of the
particles of a substance.
Ternary compound: A compound
containing three or more
elements.
