CHEMISTRY SPARK NOTES

BY KATIE CANNELL
Unit I:

Scientific Method:
Independent variable= something I change
Dependent variable= something that depends on the IV
To help remember scientific method, use this mnemonic :
Oliver
Quietly
Hated
Everything
About
Cats
(Observation Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Analysis, Conclusion)

Unit 2:
Empirical/ Molecular Formula:
Molecular Formula= Includes all the atoms present in a compound. Ex) Octane (C8H18)
Empirical Formula= The smallest formula for a compound. Ex) Octane (C4H9)

Percent Composition:

Unit 3:
Types of Reactions:
Reaction Type
Synthesis

Decomposition

Neutralization

Combustion

Single Replacement

Explanation
Two or more
compounds
combine
The opposite of
synthesis, a
molecule breaks
down to make
simpler ones
An acid and a base
react with each
other. Generally,
the product of tis
reaction is a salt
and water
Oxygen combines
with a compound to
form CO2 and water.
These reactions are
exothermic(give off
heat)
One element
trades places with
another element in
the compound

General Formula
A + B AB

AB A + B

Acid+ Salt Salt +

Water

A + O2 H2O + CO2

A + BC AC + B

Double
Replacement

Two elements trade

places with another
element in the
compound

Chemical vs. Physical Changes:

Unit 4:
Atomic Structure:

Electron Configuration:

AB + CD AC + BD

Unit5:
Nuclear Stability:

Most elements have

isotopes (an
element with same
# of protons and
different # of
neutrons)
Elements are said to
be stable when they
have a 1:1 ratio of
neutrons to
protons(HydrogenCalcium)
Elements past Calcium (Scandium- Bismuth) in order to be stable must have
a neutron to proton ratio of 1.5:1

Half-Life:
The time it takes for a substance to lose half of is radioactive material.

Unit 6:
Periodic Table:

Periodic Table Trends:

Electron Affinity (Electronegativity) a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a

bonding pair of electrons.
Ionization Energy describes the minimum amount of energy required to remove an
electron
Atomic Radius the measure of the size of its atoms from the center of the nucleus to
outside
Metallic character of the nature of or suggesting metal, as in luster, resonance, or
hardness

Unit 7:
Gas Laws:

Boyles Law: P1V1= P2V2

Unit 8:
Physical Behavior of Matter:

Heating curve:

Vapor Pressure:

Charles Law: V1/T1= V2/T2

Boiling Point:

Unit 9:
Types of Bonds:

Naming Compounds:

On the left of the periodic table the elements are

positive(generally the metals) and the elements on the right side
are generally negative(the non-metals)

Ionic compounds without transition metals:

The metal ion's name does not change regardless of charge
The non-metal's name ends in ide.
Make sure the elements charges add up to zero
For example:

AlCl3 = aluminum chloride

Ionic Compounds with a transition metal:

 The only difference here is that we have to specify the charge of the
transition metal ion by using a Roman numeral
Because transition metals can assume more than one charge, you
have to specify which one is involved
Roman numeral
I
II
III
IV
V
VI

Charge
+1
+2
+3
+4
+5
+6

Example: Manganese(II) oxide contains Mn+2 and O-2. So we just need one of
each and the formula becomes MnO.
Covalent Compounds:
These are formed from non-metals that share electrons
Use this set of prefixes:
Prefix
mono
di
tri
tetra
penta
hexa

Number of
atoms
1
2
3
4
5
6

The only time to drop a prefix is if the mono is to appear at the beginning of the
name.

Naming Acids:
All binary acids are named the same way:
1. the prefix "hydro" is used.
2. the root of the anion is used.
3. the suffix "ic" is used.

4. the word "acid" is used as the second word in the name.

Unit 10:
Covalent Compounds and Shapes:
Covalent compounds are makeup of nonmetals
A covalent compound occurs when two or more nonmetal atoms bond
by sharing valence(outermost shell) electrons
Nonmetals lack metallic characteristics, are usually gases at room
temperature, are poor conductors of electricity and heat, they gain
electrons to gain negative ions and they are found on the right side of
the staircase of the periodic table(and Hydrogen)

Different types of covalent bonds:

Unit 11:
Stoichiometry:

 Stoichiometry is the math of chemical equations

If an equation is balanced it is possible to determine the amount of
product that can be formed from a given mass of reactants.
The coefficient tells you how many moles of each substance are
present in the equation
The amounts of reactants and products can be varied, so long as the
ratios remain constant.

Ex)