Basic Chemistry Concepts

Chemistry: The science that studies the properties, composition, and structure of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions.
Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space.
- States of Matter: Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma.

Atom: The basic unit of matter, composed of:
- Protons: Positively charged particles found in the nucleus.
- Neutrons: Neutral particles also in the nucleus.
- Electrons: Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus.
Atomic Number: Number of protons in an atom, determines the element.
Mass Number: Total number of protons and neutrons in an atom.

Elements: Pure substances consisting of one type of atom.
Groups: Vertical columns in the periodic table, elements have similar chemical properties.
Periods: Horizontal rows, properties change progressively.

Ionic Bonds: Formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in charged ions.
Covalent Bonds: Formed when atoms share electrons.
Metallic Bonds: Involve a 'sea of electrons' shared among metal atoms.

Reactants: Substances that undergo a chemical change.
Products: New substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction.
Types of Reactions:
- Synthesis: Two or more substances combine to form a new compound.
- Decomposition: A single compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances.
- Single Replacement: An element replaces another in a compound.
- Double Replacement: Ions in two compounds exchange places.

Acids: Substances that produce hydrogen ions (H⁺) in solution; have a pH < 7.
Bases: Substances that produce hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in solution; have a pH > 7.
pH Scale: Measures the acidity or basicity of a solution, ranging from 0 (strong acid) to 14 (strong base).

Mole: A unit used to measure the amount of a substance (6.022 x 10²³ particles).
Molar Mass: Mass of one mole of a substance (g/mol).
Balanced Equations: Represent the conservation of mass; the number of atoms for each element must be equal on both sides.

Endothermic Reactions: Absorb heat energy from the surroundings.
Exothermic Reactions: Release heat energy to the surroundings.
Activation Energy: The minimum energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Organic Compounds: Contain carbon, often with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements.
Functional Groups: Specific groups of atoms that determine the properties and reactions of organic compounds (e.g., hydroxyl, carboxyl).

Inorganic Compounds: Compounds that typically do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds.
Salts, Metals, and Minerals: Common types of inorganic substances.

Titration: Method for determining the concentration of a solution by reacting it with a standard solution.
Chromatography: Technique for separating mixtures into their components.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Essential for safety, includes gloves, goggles, and lab coats.
Chemical Hygiene: Practices that minimize exposure and accidents in the laboratory.

Chemistry studies matter's properties, composition, structure, and changes during reactions.
Matter is anything that possesses mass and occupies space.
The four primary states of matter are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

An atom is the fundamental unit of matter, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Protons carry a positive charge and reside in the nucleus alongside neutral neutrons.
Electrons are negatively charged and orbit the nucleus, determining chemical properties.
The atomic number indicates the number of protons in an atom and defines the element.
The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in the atom's nucleus.

Elements are pure substances made up of only one type of atom.
Groups are vertical columns in the periodic table where elements share similar chemical properties.
Periods are horizontal rows where elemental properties change progressively across the table.

Ionic bonds form through the transfer of electrons, resulting in positively and negatively charged ions.
Covalent bonds occur when atoms share electrons, creating stable molecules.
Metallic bonds involve a 'sea of electrons' that move freely among metal atoms, allowing conductivity.

Reactants are the initial substances that undergo change during a reaction.
Products are the new substances formed as a result of the chemical reaction.
Types of chemical reactions include:
- Synthesis: Multiple substances combine into a single new compound.
- Decomposition: A single compound breaks into two or more simpler substances.
- Single Replacement: An element displaces another element in a compound.
- Double Replacement: Ions in two compounds swap places, forming new compounds.

Acids produce hydrogen ions (H⁺) and have a pH less than 7, indicating acidity.
Bases produce hydroxide ions (OH⁻) and have a pH greater than 7, indicating basicity.
The pH scale ranges from 0 (strong acid) to 14 (strong base), measuring solution acidity or basicity.

A mole represents a quantity of a substance equal to 6.022 x 10²³ particles.
Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance expressed in grams per mole (g/mol).
Balanced equations ensure the conservation of mass with equal numbers of atoms for each element on both sides.

Endothermic reactions absorb heat energy from the surroundings, leading to temperature decrease.
Exothermic reactions release heat energy to the surroundings, causing temperature increase.
Activation energy is the minimum energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Organic compounds primarily contain carbon, often combined with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements.
Functional groups are specific atom groups that dictate the chemical properties and reactions of organic compounds, such as hydroxyl or carboxyl groups.

Inorganic compounds generally lack carbon-hydrogen bonds and encompass various substances.
Common inorganic substances include salts, metals, and minerals.

Titration is used to determine solution concentration by reacting it with a standard solution.
Chromatography is a method for separating mixtures into their individual components.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is crucial for safety, including gloves, goggles, and lab coats.
Chemical hygiene practices are essential to minimize laboratory exposure and prevent accidents.