abbreviated electron configuration: An electron configuration that uses one of the noble
gases to represent the core of electrons up to that element.
absolute zero: The minimum possible temperature, labeled 0 K (zero kelvins)
acid: An ionic compound of the H+ cation dissolved in water
acid: A compound that increases the amount of H+ ions in an aqueous solution
acid dissociation constant (Ka):The equilibrium constant for the dissociation of a weak acid
into
acid salt: An ionic compound whose aqueous solution is slightly acidic
activated complex: See transition state
activation energy (Ea):The minimum amount of kinetic energy molecules must possess for
an effective collision to occur
active site: Area of enzymatic action where substrate molecules react
activity series: A list of elements that will replace elements below them in single-
replacement reactions
actual yield: The amount that is actually produced in a chemical reaction
addition reaction: A reaction where atoms are added across a double or triple bond
adhesion: The tendency of a substance to interact with other substances because of
intermolecular forces
adsorb: Bind to the surface of another substance
alcohol: An organic compound that contains an OH functional group
aldehyde: A compound that has a carbonyl functional group at the end of a chain of C atoms
aliphatic hydrocarbons: A hydrocarbon based on chains of C atoms
alkaline battery: A type of dry cell that contains an alkaline (i.e., basic) moist paste, rather
than an acidic paste
alkane: An aliphatic hydrocarbon with only single covalent bonds
alkene: An aliphatic hydrocarbon that contains a C–C double bond
alkyl halide: An organic compound that contains a halogen atom
alkyne: An aliphatic hydrocarbon that contains a C–C triple bond
,alpha particle: A type of radioactive emission equivalent to a helium nucleus
amide groups: A functional group that is the combination of the amine and carbonyl
functional groups
amide bond: The bond between the N atom and the C atom in an amide.
Amine: An organic derivative of ammonia
amorphous solid: A solid with no long-term structure or repetition
amphiprotic: A substance that can act as a proton donor or a proton acceptor
analyte: The reagent of unknown concentration
angular momentum quantum number (ℓ): An index that affects the energy and the spatial
distribution of an electron in an atom.
Anion: A species with an overall negative charge
Anode: The half cell that contains the oxidation reaction
antibonding molecular orbital: A higher energy molecular orbital generated by destructive
combination of atomic orbitals
aromatic hydrocarbons: Flat ring systems, which contain continuously overlapping p orbitals,
such as benzene
Arrhenius acid: A compound that increases the hydrogen ion concentration in aqueous
solution
Arrhenius base: A compound that increases the hydroxide ion concentration in aqueous
solution
atmosphere (atm): A unit of pressure equal to the average atmospheric pressure at sea
level; defined as exactly 760 mmHg
atom: The smallest piece of an element that maintains the identity of that element
atomic mass: The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus
atomic mass: The weighted average of the masses of the isotopes that compose an element
atomic mass unit: One-twelfth of the mass of a carbon-12
atomic number: The number of protons in an atom
atomic radius: An indication of the size of an atom.
atomic symbol: A one- or two-letter representation of the name of an element
, atomic theory: The concept that atoms play a fundamental role in chemistry
Aufbau principle: The way that electrons fill the lowest energy orbitals first. From the
German for “building up.”
autoionization constant of water (Kw): The product of the hydrogen ion and hydroxide ion
concentrations
autoionization of water: Water molecules act as acids (proton donors) and bases (proton
acceptors) with each other to a tiny extent in all aqueous solutions
Avogadro’s law: A gas law that relates number of particles to volume
balanced chemical equation: A condition when the reactants and products of a chemical
equation have the same number of atoms of all elements present
base: a compound that increases the amount of OH− ions in an aqueous solution
basic salt: An ionic compound whose aqueous solution is slightly basic
becquerel (Bq): A unit of radioactivity equal to 1 decay per second
beta particle: A type of radioactive emission equivalent to an electron
boiling (or vaporization): The process of a liquid becoming a gas
boiling point: The characteristic temperature at which a liquid becomes a gas
boiling point elevation: The increase of a solution’s boiling point because of the presence of
solute
boiling point elevation constant (Kb): The constant that relates the molality concentration of
a solution and its boiling point change
bond energy: The approximate amount of energy needed to break a covalent bond
bond order: A method of evaluating bond strength
bonding electron pair: A pair of electrons that makes a covalent bond
bonding molecular orbital: The lower energy molecular orbital generated by constructive
combination of atomic orbitals
Boyle’s law: A gas law that relates pressure and volume at constant temperature and
amount
branched hydrocarbons: A carbon compound that is not a straight chain, having substituents
appended to the longest chain
gases to represent the core of electrons up to that element.
absolute zero: The minimum possible temperature, labeled 0 K (zero kelvins)
acid: An ionic compound of the H+ cation dissolved in water
acid: A compound that increases the amount of H+ ions in an aqueous solution
acid dissociation constant (Ka):The equilibrium constant for the dissociation of a weak acid
into
acid salt: An ionic compound whose aqueous solution is slightly acidic
activated complex: See transition state
activation energy (Ea):The minimum amount of kinetic energy molecules must possess for
an effective collision to occur
active site: Area of enzymatic action where substrate molecules react
activity series: A list of elements that will replace elements below them in single-
replacement reactions
actual yield: The amount that is actually produced in a chemical reaction
addition reaction: A reaction where atoms are added across a double or triple bond
adhesion: The tendency of a substance to interact with other substances because of
intermolecular forces
adsorb: Bind to the surface of another substance
alcohol: An organic compound that contains an OH functional group
aldehyde: A compound that has a carbonyl functional group at the end of a chain of C atoms
aliphatic hydrocarbons: A hydrocarbon based on chains of C atoms
alkaline battery: A type of dry cell that contains an alkaline (i.e., basic) moist paste, rather
than an acidic paste
alkane: An aliphatic hydrocarbon with only single covalent bonds
alkene: An aliphatic hydrocarbon that contains a C–C double bond
alkyl halide: An organic compound that contains a halogen atom
alkyne: An aliphatic hydrocarbon that contains a C–C triple bond
,alpha particle: A type of radioactive emission equivalent to a helium nucleus
amide groups: A functional group that is the combination of the amine and carbonyl
functional groups
amide bond: The bond between the N atom and the C atom in an amide.
Amine: An organic derivative of ammonia
amorphous solid: A solid with no long-term structure or repetition
amphiprotic: A substance that can act as a proton donor or a proton acceptor
analyte: The reagent of unknown concentration
angular momentum quantum number (ℓ): An index that affects the energy and the spatial
distribution of an electron in an atom.
Anion: A species with an overall negative charge
Anode: The half cell that contains the oxidation reaction
antibonding molecular orbital: A higher energy molecular orbital generated by destructive
combination of atomic orbitals
aromatic hydrocarbons: Flat ring systems, which contain continuously overlapping p orbitals,
such as benzene
Arrhenius acid: A compound that increases the hydrogen ion concentration in aqueous
solution
Arrhenius base: A compound that increases the hydroxide ion concentration in aqueous
solution
atmosphere (atm): A unit of pressure equal to the average atmospheric pressure at sea
level; defined as exactly 760 mmHg
atom: The smallest piece of an element that maintains the identity of that element
atomic mass: The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus
atomic mass: The weighted average of the masses of the isotopes that compose an element
atomic mass unit: One-twelfth of the mass of a carbon-12
atomic number: The number of protons in an atom
atomic radius: An indication of the size of an atom.
atomic symbol: A one- or two-letter representation of the name of an element
, atomic theory: The concept that atoms play a fundamental role in chemistry
Aufbau principle: The way that electrons fill the lowest energy orbitals first. From the
German for “building up.”
autoionization constant of water (Kw): The product of the hydrogen ion and hydroxide ion
concentrations
autoionization of water: Water molecules act as acids (proton donors) and bases (proton
acceptors) with each other to a tiny extent in all aqueous solutions
Avogadro’s law: A gas law that relates number of particles to volume
balanced chemical equation: A condition when the reactants and products of a chemical
equation have the same number of atoms of all elements present
base: a compound that increases the amount of OH− ions in an aqueous solution
basic salt: An ionic compound whose aqueous solution is slightly basic
becquerel (Bq): A unit of radioactivity equal to 1 decay per second
beta particle: A type of radioactive emission equivalent to an electron
boiling (or vaporization): The process of a liquid becoming a gas
boiling point: The characteristic temperature at which a liquid becomes a gas
boiling point elevation: The increase of a solution’s boiling point because of the presence of
solute
boiling point elevation constant (Kb): The constant that relates the molality concentration of
a solution and its boiling point change
bond energy: The approximate amount of energy needed to break a covalent bond
bond order: A method of evaluating bond strength
bonding electron pair: A pair of electrons that makes a covalent bond
bonding molecular orbital: The lower energy molecular orbital generated by constructive
combination of atomic orbitals
Boyle’s law: A gas law that relates pressure and volume at constant temperature and
amount
branched hydrocarbons: A carbon compound that is not a straight chain, having substituents
appended to the longest chain
