5/31/2019 Chemistry Definitions - Google Docs

Inorganic
Allotrope- An element which can exist in two or more different forms

Organic
Functional group- A group of atoms that is largely responsible for the chemical behaviour of the
parent molecule
Empirical formula- Chemical formula that gives the simple whole number ratio of each type of
atoms in the molecule of the compound
Molecular formula- Chemical formula that gives the actual number of each type of atoms
present in the molecule of the compound
Structural formula- Chemical formula that shows how the atoms are chemically bonded to one
another
Isomerism- Existence of two or more compounds that have same kinds of atoms but different
spatial arrangements of atoms
Isomer- Compound with the same molecular formula but different spatial arrangement of atoms
Chiral carbon- A carbon atom that has four different groups attached to it
Free radical- A particle in which one atom has an unpaired electron
Polymerisation- A process of joining up many identical small molecules to form a long chained
molecule.
Addition Polymerisation- A process whereby monomers of the same kind link together to form a
much larger molecule without any gain or loss of material
Condensation Polymerisation- A process whereby monomer molecules join together to form a
polymer molecule and other small molecules which are eliminated
Polymer- A long-chained molecule that consists of small and identical molecules that link
together through a chemical process.
Monomer- A simple molecule that can be chemically bonded with other molecules of the same
type to form a larger molecule.
Thermosetting plastic- Plastics which set hard and cannot be remelted
Thermoplastic- Plastics that can be moulded by melting

Physical

Law of definite proportion/ Law of constant composition- A chemical compound always contains
its constituent elements in fixed ratio and is independent of method of preparation & source.
Law of multiple proportion- When 2 elements combine to form 2 or more compounds, the
masses of 1 element that combine with a given mass of the other element are in simple whole
number ratio.

Aufbau Principle / Principle of Lowest Energy- Electrons must occupy available orbitals of lower
energy first before they fill orbitals of higher energy.
Pauli Exclusion Principle- Each orbital can be occupied by 2 electrons of opposite spins only.

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Proofread by: Mr. Foo Ming Choong

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5/31/2019 Chemistry Definitions - Google Docs

Hund’s Rule- When electrons are placed in a set of orbitals with equal energies, the electrons
must occupy them singly with parallel spins before they occupy the orbitals in pairs so that the
atom will have the lowest energy.
Ionization Energy- Energy required to remove 1 electron from a gaseous atom or ion by
overcoming nuclear attraction

Boyle’s Law- At a constant temperature, volume of a gas with a fixed mass is inversely
proportional to its pressure.
Charles’ Law- At a constant pressure, volume of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to
its temperature in Kelvins.
Gay-Lussac Law- In a reaction between gases, volumes of gaseous reactants measured at the
same temperature & pressure are in simple ratio to one another and to the volume of any
gaseous product.
Graham’s Law of Diffusion- Under constant temperature & pressure, rate of diffusion of a gas is
inversely proportional to the root of its density.
Partial Pressure- Pressure that a gas exerts when it occupies the whole container.
Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure- In a mixture of gases which do not react chemically, total
pressure of the mixture is equal to the sum of partial pressure of the constituent gases.
Standard Vapour Pressure- Maximum vapour pressure of a liquid at a given temperature when
rate of evaporation is equal to the rate of condensation

Saturated solution- A solution which contains the maximum amount of solute in a given solvent
at a specific temperature.
Supersaturated solution- A solution that contains more quantity of solute present in a saturated
solution at a certain temperature.
Solubility- Maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved in a given quantity of solvent at a
certain temperature.
Partition Law- When a solute is shaken with 2 immiscible solvents, the solute will dissolve in
both solvents according to its solubility in both solvents.
Mass Percentage- (An expression for concentration of solution) Mass of solute over the mass
of solution multiplied by 100%
Volume percentage- (An expression for concentration of solution) Volume of solute over the
volume of solution multiplied by 100%
Molality- (An expression for concentration of solution) Number of moles of solute in 1 kg of
solvent
Molarity- (An expression for concentration of solution) Number of moles of solute in 1 L of
solution
Ideal solution- A solution that contains 2 components, and the intermolecular forces of attraction
between molecules of A and B= that between molecules of A = that between molecules of B
Raoult’s Law- For a dilute solution of non-volatile and non-electrolyte at a certain temperature,
its vapour pressure = vapour pressure of pure solvent x mole fraction of solvent in the solution
Standard Heat of formation- Heat change when 1 mol of substance is formed from its elements
under standard conditions.

Edited by: Tew Yiqing Sr3ScA 2018

Proofread by: Mr. Foo Ming Choong

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5/31/2019 Chemistry Definitions - Google Docs

Standard Heat of combustion- Heat released when 1 mol of substance is completely burnt in
oxygen under standard conditions.
Standard Heat of neutralisation- Heat released when 1 mol of H+ reacts with 1 mol of OH- to
form 1 mol of H2O in their standard states.
Hess’s Law- The change of enthalpy in a chemical reaction is independent of the pathway
between the inital and final states.
Rate Equation- The relation of rate of a reaction to the concentration of reactants
Le Chatelier’s Principle- If the conditions of a reversible reaction is altered and the equilibrium of
the system is disturbed, the position of equilibrium will shift to minimize the effects of altering the
conditions.
Ksp- Product of concentration of ions in a saturated solution of the ionic compound each rise to
the power of its coefficient in the dissociation equation
Arrhenius Definition- An acid is a substance that ionises in water to produce H+, a base is a
substance that ionises in water to produce OH-
Bronsted-Lowry Definition- An acid is a substance that donates proton(H+), a base is a
substance that accepts proton(H+)
Lewis Theory- An acid is an electron pair acceptor, a base is an electron pair donor.
Ionization constant - Ratio of product of the concentration of ions in the solution to the
concentration of unionized molecules
Degree of dissociation- Percentage of dissociated molecules
End point- The point at which the acid-base indicator changes its colour.
Equivalence point- The point at which the amount of a acid/base is exactly neutralized by a
base/acid
Hydrolysis of salt- Reaction between anion & cation of salt with H+/OH- of water to form a weak
electrolyte
Buffer solution- A solution which pH value changes very slightly when a small amount of acid or
base is added.
Electrolysis- Decomposition of a compound into its constituent elements when electricity passes
through it
Law of Electrolysis- The amount of substance produced during electrolysis is directly
proportional to the amount of electric charge.
Half-life- The time taken for a number of radioactive atoms to decay to half of its original number
of atoms
Nuclear energy- Energy released when the structure of the nucleus atom is changed
Nuclear fusion- A nuclear reaction in which the elements with lighter nuclei combine to form
heavier nuclei with the release of energy
Nuclear fission- A nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus is bombarded by a neutron and
splits up to form lighter nuclei and one or more neutrons with the release of energy

Edited by: Tew Yiqing Sr3ScA 2018

Proofread by: Mr. Foo Ming Choong

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