Chemistry Vocabulary

Chemistry Vocabulary 

1. Condensing = compounds are transitioning from a gas to a liquid; an act of cooling. 
2. Deposition = transition from a gas straight to a solid where the atoms move quickly to very slowly; no liquid forms; an act of cooling. 
3. Evaporating = transition from liquid to a gas where atoms move so much they leave the container; an act of warming. 
4. Gaseous = atoms are moving fast so containers do not hold them if their is no lid; no distinct volume or shape. 
5. Freezing = transition from liquid to solid where the atoms slowly move but not outside of a shape; an act of cooling.
6.  Matter = anything that has mass and volume. 
7. Melting = transition from solid to liquid where atoms start to move more so they take the shape of the container; an act of warming. 
8. Phase of Matter = speed of compounds that dictates the volume and shape of compounds (State of matter).
9. Plasma = most common state of matter in the universe but only example on Earth is lightning; state where atoms are moving so fast the electrons move from atom to atom. 
10. Sublimation = transition from a solid straight to a gas where the atoms barely move  to very quickly; no liquid forms; an act of warming. 
11. Liquid = state where compounds are moving and take the shape of their container but have an actual volume. 
12. Solid = state where compounds are slowly moving so it has a distinct shape and volume. 
13. AMU = atomic mass unit - units for subatomic particles.
14.  Atom = small particle that makes up all matter.
15.  Chemical Bond  = forces connecting atoms to fill outer electron shells      Types: covalent bonds, ionic bonds, and metallic bonds. 
16. Chemical Formula = list all elements and amounts in a compound like 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen equals H2O. 
17. Compound = multiple elements combined (bonded) like H2O (water) or NaCl (salt).
18. Covalent bond  = atoms share electrons in molecule (example: H2O).
19. Electron = negatively charged particle surrounding nucleus; mass of about 0 AMU.
20.  Electron Cloud = actual location of electrons around nucleus. 
21. Electron Shell = electrons are in shells, but certain amounts per shell, ex: 2, 8,18, 32 (also called energy levels, orbitals). 
22. Element = pure substance of matter.
23.  Family = elements with similar properties; elements that are in the same column.
24. Ion = Atom that has gained or lost electrons, therefore, atom with a charge.
25.  Ionic Bond = atoms steal electrons in compound (example NaCl)... where ions bond. 
26. Isotope = Atoms of the same elements that differ in number of neutrons, therefore, different masses.
27.  Metallic Bond = bond between metals where electrons flow freely between metals - between ionic and covalent. 
28. Molecule = multiple atoms combined (bonded) like O2 (oxygen gas), Cl2 (chlorine gas),  H2O (water) or NaCl (salt)                       * all compounds are molecules.
29.  Neutron = no charge particle in nucleus; mass of about 1 AMU. 
30. Nucleus (atom) = proton and neutron core of atom surrounded by electrons. 
31. Period = row on periodic table so elements are a proton apart. 
32. Periodic Table = organized chart of elements showing all similarities.
33. Proton = positively charged particle in nucleus; mass of about 1 AMU. 
34. Valence electron = electrons residing in shell furthest from the nucleus.
35. Acid = substance that has a low pH, taste sour, and turns litmus paper red.
36. Alloy = a solid solution of two or more elements with one being a metal. 
37. Base = substance that has a high pH, taste bitter, and turns litmus paper blue.
38. Catalyst = substance needed to help speed up a chemical reaction but is not involved in the chemical formula of the reaction. 
39. Nonmetals = Usually gasses or brittle solids at room temperature. 
40. Metals = Good conductors of heat and electricity.