Glossary - Fundamentals of Chemistry - page 669

cathode (5.2) The electrode where reduction occurs in an
electrochemical reaction.
cation (5.2) A positively charged ion.
cell ( Chapter 17, Introduction) An electrochemical apparatus
in which an oxidation half-reaction occurs at the anode
and at the same time a reduction half-reaction occurs at
the cathode resulting in (1) a chemical reaction creating
electricity (voltaic cell), or (2) electricity creating a
chemical reaction (electrolytic cell).
Celsius scale (2.6) The temperature scale defined with as
the freezing point of water and as the normal boil-
ing point of water; the centigrade scale.
centered dot (5.1) An indication that water of hydration is
part of a compound, as in
centigrade scale (2.6) The Celsius scale.
central atom (13.4) The atom in a molecule or ion to which
(most of) the other atoms are covalently bonded.
chain reaction (21.3) A nuclear reaction whose products
cause the same reaction to occur again.
charge (17.5) A quantity of electricity, measured in
coulumbs or faradays.
Charles' law (12.3) At constant pressure, the volume of a
given sample of gas is directly proportional to its ab-
solute temperature.
chemical change (1.1) A chemical reaction.
chemical property (1.2) A property having to do with possi-
ble changes in the composition of a substance.
chemical reaction (1.1) A change in which the composi-
tion (or structure) of one or more substances is
altered.
chemistry (1.3) The study of the interaction of matter and
energy and the changes that matter undergoes.
circuit (17.1) A closed path that electric charge can follow
and get back to its original location. The word is related
to the word circle, because if you follow the path from
any point you get back where you started. In electro-
chemistry, the circuit is composed of solutions (through
which ions carry the charge) and wires (through which
electrons carry the charge).
coefficient (2.2) The number that is multiplied by a base
raised to a certain power in a number written in expo-
nential notation, such as the 1.5 in
coefficient (8.1) The number placed before a formula in a
chemical equation to balance the equation.
coinage metal (1.5) An element of periodic group IB: Cu,
Ag, or Au.
colligative properties (15.6) Characteristics of solutions
that are dependent on the concentration of solute parti-
cles and the nature of the solvent but not on the nature
of the solute.
combination reaction (8.3) A reaction in which two sub-
stances combine to form one.
combined gas law (12.4) For a given sample of gas, the vol-
ume is directly proportional to the absolute temperature
and inversely proportional to the pressure.

combustion (8.3) A reaction of an element or compound
with oxygen at high temperature.
completion (10.4) The condition a reaction has reached
when the limiting quantity of reactant has been used up.
compound (1.1) A chemical combination of elements that
has a definite composition and its own set of properties.
concentration (11.1, 15.3) The quantity of solute per unit
volume of solution or per unit mass of solvent.
condensation (14.2) A change of phase from gaseous to liq-
uid or solid.
condensed formula (20.1) A formula that shows bonded
groups of atoms in a molecule or polyatomic ion rather
than the atoms individually (as in a structural formula)
but is not limited to a single line (as is a line formula).
conjugate acid (19.1) The cation (or molecule) that results
from the reaction of a base with a proton.
conjugate acid-base pair (19.1) A Brønsted acid and base
that differ from each other by
conjugate base (19.1) The anion (or molecule) that results
from the loss of a proton by an acid.
constant composition See law of constant composition .
“control” of shared electrons (16.1) Assignment of the
electrons in a covalent bond to the more electronegative
atom of the bond.
control rod (21.3) A neutron-absorbing rod used to slow
down nuclear reactions in reactors.
controlled experiment (13.1) An experiment in which only
one of several variables is altered at a time.
conversion factor (2.1) A ratio equal to 1, which can be
multiplied by a quantity to change the form of the quan-
tity without changing its value.
covalent bond (5.5) A bond resulting from electron sharing.
critical mass (21.3) The smallest mass capable of sustaining
a nuclear chain reaction.
crystalline solid (14.1) A solid with a regular internal struc-
ture of repeating units and a definite melting point.
cubic meter (2.3) The volume equal to that of a cube that
measures 1 m on each edge; the basic unit of volume
in SI.

0°

100°

CuSO 4 # 5H 2 O.

H .

Dalton's atomic theory (3.2) The theory that matter is made
up of small particles (atoms) that have properties char-
acteristic of an element.
Dalton's law of partial pressures (12.6) The total pressure
of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of the partial pres-
sures of its components.
Daniell cell (17.1) A cell with zinc and copper electrodes.
daughter isotope (21.1) The large product of a natural ra-
dioactive decay event.
decay See radioactive decay .
decomposition reaction (8.3) A reaction in which one com-
pound is broken down into two or more substances.
definite composition (1.1) The given ratio by mass of each
element in a compound to any other element in the
compound.

10 2 . 1.5