Glossary of chemistry terms
Glossary of Chemistry Terms is a comprehensive list that includes definitions and explanations of key terms used in the field of chemistry. This glossary serves as a fundamental resource for students, professionals, and enthusiasts who are involved in the study or practice of chemistry. It encompasses a wide range of terms from basic concepts to more advanced topics, providing insights into the vast and diverse area of chemical science.
A[edit | edit source]
- Atom - The basic unit of a chemical element. Atoms are made up of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons in electron shells.
- Alkali Metal - A group of elements in group 1 of the periodic table, known for their highly reactive properties, especially with water.
- Acid - A substance that donates hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution and can neutralize bases. Acids have a pH less than 7.
B[edit | edit source]
- Base - A substance that accepts hydrogen ions (H+) and can neutralize acids. Bases have a pH greater than 7.
- Boiling Point - The temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals the external pressure, causing it to turn into gas.
- Buffer - A solution that resists changes in pH when acid or alkali is added, typically by including a weak acid and its conjugate base.
C[edit | edit source]
- Catalyst - A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change.
- Covalent Bond - A chemical bond formed by the sharing of one or more pairs of electrons between atoms.
- Compound - A substance formed when two or more chemical elements are chemically bonded together.
D[edit | edit source]
- Distillation - A process of separating the components from a liquid mixture by selective boiling and condensation.
- Dipole - A pair of equal and oppositely charged or magnetized poles separated by a distance.
- Dissociation - The process in which molecules (or ionic compounds such as salts, or complexes) split into smaller particles such as atoms, ions, or radicals, usually in a reversible manner.
E[edit | edit source]
- Electrolysis - A technique that uses a direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction.
- Element - A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Elements consist of atoms with the same number of protons.
- Equilibrium - The state in which both reactants and products are present in concentrations which have no further tendency to change with time.
F[edit | edit source]
- Filtration - A process used to separate solids from liquids or gases using a filter medium that allows the fluid to pass but not the solid.
G[edit | edit source]
- Gas - One of the four fundamental states of matter, with no fixed shape or volume and is compressible.
H[edit | edit source]
- Halogen - Elements found in group 17 of the periodic table, known for their reactivity and their ability to form salts with metals.
- Hydrocarbon - Organic compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon.
I[edit | edit source]
- Ion - An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
- Isotope - Variants of a particular chemical element which differ in neutron number, and consequently in nucleon number.
J[edit | edit source]
K[edit | edit source]
- Kinetics - The study of the rate at which chemical processes occur.
L[edit | edit source]
- Lewis Structure - Diagrams that show the bonding between atoms of a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons that may exist.
M[edit | edit source]
- Molarity - A concentration unit of a solution expressed as moles of solute divided by liters of solution.
N[edit | edit source]
- Nucleophile - A chemical species that donates an electron pair to an electrophile to form a chemical bond in relation to a reaction.
O[edit | edit source]
- Oxidation - The process or result of oxidizing or being oxidized, which involves the loss of electrons.
P[edit | edit source]
- pH - A scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution.
- Polymer - Large molecules composed of many repeated subunits.
Q[edit | edit source]
R[edit | edit source]
- Reduction - A chemical reaction that involves the gaining of electrons.
S[edit | edit source]
- Solvent - A substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution.
- Sublimation - The transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing through the liquid state.
T[edit | edit source]
- Titration - A technique where a solution of known concentration is used to determine the concentration of an unknown solution.
U[edit | edit source]
V[edit | edit source]
- Valence Electrons - The electrons in the outer shell of an atom that are involved in forming bonds to adjacent atoms.
W[edit | edit source]
X[edit | edit source]
Y[edit | edit source]
Z[edit | edit source]
- Zwitterion - A molecule or ion having separate positively and negatively charged groups.
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