Leaving Cert Chemistry Definitions
A batch process - ANS - is an industrial process in which an amount of the
product is made in a reaction vessel during a particular time interval.
\A Bronsted-Lowry acid - ANS - is a proton donor.
\A Bronsted-Lowry base - ANS - is a proton acceptor.
\A catalyst - ANS - is a substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction but is
not consumed in the reaction.
\A conjugate acid - ANS - is formed when a proton (H⁺) is added to a
Bronsted-Lowry base.
\A conjugate acid-base pair - ANS - is an acid and base that differ by the presence
or absence of a proton.
\A conjugate base - ANS - is formed when a proton (H⁺) is removed from a
Bronsted-Lowry acid
\A continuous process - ANS - is an industrial process in which the reactants are
continuously fed into the reaction vessel, and the products are continuously
removed.
\A covalent bond - ANS - is formed when two atoms share a pair of electrons.
\A homologous series - ANS - is a family of organic compounds with the same
general formula, similar chemical properties, and successive members differing
by CH₂.
\A line spectrum - ANS - is a series of coloured lines against a dark background.
\A mole of a substance - ANS - is the amount of that substance that contains as
many particles (atoms or molecules or ions) as there are atoms of C¹² in 12g of
C¹².
\A polar covalent bond - ANS - is a bond where electrons are shared unequally
between two atoms.
\A primary standard - ANS - is a water-soluble substance that is stable and
available in pure form.
\A reducing agent - ANS - is a substance that allows reduction to happen by
losing electrons itself.
\A reversible reaction - ANS - is a reaction that can take place in either direction.
\A semi continuous process - ANS - is an industrial process in which part of the
process is a continuous process, and part is a batch process.
\A standard solution - ANS - is a solution whose concentration is accurately
known.
\Activation energy - ANS - is the minimum energy with which particles need to
collide to cause a reaction.
, \Aliphatic hydrocarbons - ANS - are hydrocarbons that do not contain a benzene
ring.
\Alpha particles (α) - ANS - are helium nuclei, with a positive charge and little
penetrating ability.
\An acid-base indicator - ANS - is a weak acid or base that has a different colour
when it is dissociated into its ions than when it is undissociated.
\An Arrhenius acid - ANS - is a substance that dissociates in aqueous solution,
forming hydrogen ions.
\An Arrhenius base - ANS - is a substance that dissociates in aqueous solution,
forming hydroxide ions.
\An atomic orbital - ANS - is a region in space within an atom where the
probability of finding an electron is relatively high.
\An electrolyte - ANS - is a substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in
water or when molten.
\An element - ANS - is a substance all of whose atoms have the same atomic
number.
\An energy level - ANS - is a region of definite energy within the atom that
electrons can occupy.
\An energy sublevel - ANS - is a group of atomic orbital's within an atom, all of
which have the same energy.
\An ideal gas - ANS - is a gas that obeys all of the assumptions of the kinetic
theory under all conditions of temperature and pressure.
\An ionic bond - ANS - is the electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely
charged ions.
\An oxidising agent - ANS - is a substance that allows oxidation to happen by
gaining electrons itself.
\Aromatic hydrocarbons - ANS - are hydrocarbons that contain a benzene ring.
\Auto-catalysis - ANS - occurs when a product of a reaction increases the rate of
the reaction.
\Auto-ignition - ANS - is ignition in an internal combustion engine before a spark
is produced.
\Avogadro's law - ANS - states that equal volumes of gases, under the same
conditions of temperature and pressure, contain equal numbers of molecules.
\Beta particles (β) - ANS - are electrons, with a negative charge and greater
penetrating ability than alpha particles.
\Bond energy - ANS - is the amount of energy in kilojoules needed to break one
mole of bonds of the same type, all species being in the gaseous state.
\Boyle's law - ANS - states that at a constant temperature, the volume of a given
mass of any gas is inversely proportional to the pressure of the gas.
A batch process - ANS - is an industrial process in which an amount of the
product is made in a reaction vessel during a particular time interval.
\A Bronsted-Lowry acid - ANS - is a proton donor.
\A Bronsted-Lowry base - ANS - is a proton acceptor.
\A catalyst - ANS - is a substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction but is
not consumed in the reaction.
\A conjugate acid - ANS - is formed when a proton (H⁺) is added to a
Bronsted-Lowry base.
\A conjugate acid-base pair - ANS - is an acid and base that differ by the presence
or absence of a proton.
\A conjugate base - ANS - is formed when a proton (H⁺) is removed from a
Bronsted-Lowry acid
\A continuous process - ANS - is an industrial process in which the reactants are
continuously fed into the reaction vessel, and the products are continuously
removed.
\A covalent bond - ANS - is formed when two atoms share a pair of electrons.
\A homologous series - ANS - is a family of organic compounds with the same
general formula, similar chemical properties, and successive members differing
by CH₂.
\A line spectrum - ANS - is a series of coloured lines against a dark background.
\A mole of a substance - ANS - is the amount of that substance that contains as
many particles (atoms or molecules or ions) as there are atoms of C¹² in 12g of
C¹².
\A polar covalent bond - ANS - is a bond where electrons are shared unequally
between two atoms.
\A primary standard - ANS - is a water-soluble substance that is stable and
available in pure form.
\A reducing agent - ANS - is a substance that allows reduction to happen by
losing electrons itself.
\A reversible reaction - ANS - is a reaction that can take place in either direction.
\A semi continuous process - ANS - is an industrial process in which part of the
process is a continuous process, and part is a batch process.
\A standard solution - ANS - is a solution whose concentration is accurately
known.
\Activation energy - ANS - is the minimum energy with which particles need to
collide to cause a reaction.
, \Aliphatic hydrocarbons - ANS - are hydrocarbons that do not contain a benzene
ring.
\Alpha particles (α) - ANS - are helium nuclei, with a positive charge and little
penetrating ability.
\An acid-base indicator - ANS - is a weak acid or base that has a different colour
when it is dissociated into its ions than when it is undissociated.
\An Arrhenius acid - ANS - is a substance that dissociates in aqueous solution,
forming hydrogen ions.
\An Arrhenius base - ANS - is a substance that dissociates in aqueous solution,
forming hydroxide ions.
\An atomic orbital - ANS - is a region in space within an atom where the
probability of finding an electron is relatively high.
\An electrolyte - ANS - is a substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in
water or when molten.
\An element - ANS - is a substance all of whose atoms have the same atomic
number.
\An energy level - ANS - is a region of definite energy within the atom that
electrons can occupy.
\An energy sublevel - ANS - is a group of atomic orbital's within an atom, all of
which have the same energy.
\An ideal gas - ANS - is a gas that obeys all of the assumptions of the kinetic
theory under all conditions of temperature and pressure.
\An ionic bond - ANS - is the electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely
charged ions.
\An oxidising agent - ANS - is a substance that allows oxidation to happen by
gaining electrons itself.
\Aromatic hydrocarbons - ANS - are hydrocarbons that contain a benzene ring.
\Auto-catalysis - ANS - occurs when a product of a reaction increases the rate of
the reaction.
\Auto-ignition - ANS - is ignition in an internal combustion engine before a spark
is produced.
\Avogadro's law - ANS - states that equal volumes of gases, under the same
conditions of temperature and pressure, contain equal numbers of molecules.
\Beta particles (β) - ANS - are electrons, with a negative charge and greater
penetrating ability than alpha particles.
\Bond energy - ANS - is the amount of energy in kilojoules needed to break one
mole of bonds of the same type, all species being in the gaseous state.
\Boyle's law - ANS - states that at a constant temperature, the volume of a given
mass of any gas is inversely proportional to the pressure of the gas.
