All A2 Level Terms and Definitions

73 Terms
Terms

Definitions

acid dissociation
constant

is the equilibrium constant for a weak acid HA

addition polymer

a polymer formed by a repeated addition reaction.

addition reaction

the joining of two molecules to form a single product molecule.

allotrope

different crystalline or molecular forms of the same element

bond enthalpy

the amount of energy need to break one mole of a bond in a gaseous

molecule.

Brnsted-Lowry theory
of acids and bases

a BrnstedLowry acid is a proton (H) donor; a Bronsted-Lowry

base is a proton (H) acceptor.

buffer solution

a solution that resists change in pH when small amount of acid or

alkali is added

chemical shift

is the /ppm value of a signal in an n.m.r. spectrum.

metal complex

the central atom or ion is a transition metal

condensation
polymerisation

is a polymerisation reaction in which the monomers are joined

together by condensation reactions.

electrochemical cell

an exothermic chemical reaction set up in two half-cells in two

separate containers so that the energy released can produce an electric
current between them.

electrode potential

the voltage measured for a half-cell. Another half-cell is essential for

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this measurement to be made.

heterolytic fission

when a bond breaks to form a positive ion and a negative ion.

hydrocarbons

compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms.

ideal gas

an imaginary gas in which the molecules have negligible size, no

intermolecular forces and where collisions between molecules are
elastic.

ionisation energy

the first ionisation energy is the energy needed to remove one electron
from each atom in one mole of gaseous atoms of an element

lattice enthalpy

is the enthalpy change when 1 mole of an ionic compound is formed

from its gaseous ions under standard conditions (298K, 100 kPa).

monomer

the small molecule used to build a polymer molecule.

nuclear magnetic
resonance (n.m.r.)
spectroscopy

is a technique that provides information about the relative numbers

and different environments of hydrogen atoms in an organic molecule.

optical isomers

are molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each

other. They contain one or more chiral centres.

order of reaction

the power to which a concentration term of a reagent is raised in the

rate equation

polyamide

polymers in which the monomers are connected by peptide linkages.

polymer

the long molecular chain built up from monomer units.

polypeptide

is a length of amino acids joined by condensation polymerisation. A

polypeptide is shorter in length than a protein molecule.

rate constant

is the proportionality constant k in a rate equation (rate = k[A][B]).

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rate-determining step

is the slowest step in the reaction.

rate equation

has the form rate = k[A][B] which shows how the rate of a chemical
reaction depends on the concentration of reactants (A & B) and the
rate constant k.

solubility product for a

salt

this is the product of the concentrations of the ions in a saturated

solution of the salt raised to the appropriate powers. Only applies to
sparing soluble salts.

standard electrode
potential

the potential difference between the standard hydrogen electrode and

the half cell

standard enthalpy
change of atomisation

is the enthalpy change when one mole of gaseous atoms are formed
from an element in its standard state.

standard enthalpy
change of combustion

the enthalpy change when one mole of an element or compound reacts

completely with oxygen under standard conditions.

standard enthalpy
change of formation

the enthalpy change when one mole of a compound is formed from its
elements under standard conditions; both compound and elements are
in their standard states.

standard enthalpy
change of hydration

the enthalpy change when one mole of a gaseous ion dissolves in

water to give an infinitely dilute solution.

standard enthalpy
change of neutralisation

the enthalpy change when one mole of Ii' ions from an acid is
completely neutralised by an alkali to give one mole of water.

standard enthalpy
change of reaction

the enthalpy change when amounts of reactants, as shown in the

reaction equation. react together under standard conditions to give
products in their standard states.

standard enthalpy
change of solution

the enthalpy change when one mole of a solute dissolves in a solvent

to give an infinitely dilute solution.

standard hydrogen

a half-cell in which hydrogen gas at a pressure of one atmosphere is

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electrode

bubbled into a solution of 1 mol dm H ions. Electrical contact is made

with a platinum black electrode. This half-cell is given a standard
electrode potential of o.ooV; all other standard electrode potentials are
measured relative to it.

strong acid

is an acid fully dissociated into ions in aqueous solution.

transition element (or

transition metal)

an element forming one or more stable ions with a partially filled dorbitals

weak acid

an acid partly dissociated into ions in aqueous solution.

zwitterion

a dipolar ion formed between -COOH and -NH2 during internal acidbase reaction

disproportionation

The formation of a higher and a lower oxidation state from an

intermediate one/simultaneous oxidation and reduction

lattice energy

the energy change when 1 mol of a solid ionic compound is formed

from its gaseous ions

enthalpy change of
vaporisation

energy required to change 1 mol of the liquid into gaseous phase

ligand

an atom, ion or molecule species that contains a lone pair of electrons

that can form dative bond to a transition metal ion

partition coefficient

ratio of the concentrations of a solute in each of two immiscible

solvents

reversible reaction

One that can go in either direction

dynamic equilibrium

both forward & reverse reactions are going on at the same time, but
the concentrations of all species do not change

allotrope

forms of the same element with different arrangements of atoms

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complex ion

an ion formed when a ligand datively bonds to a central metal cation

polydentate ligand

can form more than one dative bond per molecule of ligand

double helix

two interlinked spirals chains strands woven round each other

bond energy

energy required to break 1 mol of bonds in gas phase

structural isomerism

compounds that have the same molecular formula, but different

structures

standard electrode
potential

The EMF of a cell made up of the test electrode and standard

hydrogen electrode under standard conditions of temperature, pressure
and concentration

disproportionation

The formation of a higher and a lower oxidation state from an

intermediate one/simultaneous oxidation and reduction

lattice energy

the energy change when 1 mol of a solid ionic compound is formed

from its gaseous ions

enthalpy change of
vaporisation

energy required to change 1 mol of the liquid into gaseous phase

ligand

an atom, ion or molecule species that contains a lone pair of electrons

that can form dative bond to a transition metal ion

order of reaction

the power to which a concentration term of a reagent is raised in the

rate equation

transition element

an element forming one or more stable ions with a partially filled dorbitals

partition coefficient

ratio of the concentrations of a solute in each of two immiscible

solvents

reversible reaction

One that can go in either direction

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dynamic equilibrium

both forward & reverse reactions are going on at the same time, but
the concentrations of all species do not change

allotrope

forms of the same element with different arrangements of atoms

enthalpy change of
hydration

energy change when 1 mol of ions in the gas phase are dissolved in
water

buffer solution

a solution that resists change in pH when small amount of acid or

alkali is added

complex ion

an ion formed when a ligand datively bonds to a central metal cation

polydentate ligand

can form more than one dative bond per molecule of ligand

double helix

two interlinked spirals chains strands woven round each other

zwitterion

A species having positive and negative ionic centres / charges, with

no overall charge

bond energy

energy required to break 1 mol of bonds in gas phase

structural isomerism

compounds that have the same molecular formula, but different

structures

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