Chemistry: Mixtures and Solutions

Key Words

• Mixture: A combination of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded.

• Reactivity: The tendency of a substance to undergo a chemical change.

• Bonding: The attractive forces that hold atoms together in a molecule or compound.

• Ionic bonding: The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

• Covalent bonding: The sharing of electrons between atoms.

• Electrostatic conductivity: The ability of a substance to allow the flow of electric charge.

• Reactants: Substances that undergo a chemical reaction.

• Products: Substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

• Solute: A substance dissolved in a solvent.

• Solvent: A substance that dissolves a solute.

• Solution: A homogeneous mixture of a solute and a solvent.

• Concentration: The amount of solute dissolved in a given amount of solvent.

• Dilute: A solution with a low concentration of solute.

• Concentrated: A solution with a high concentration of solute.

• Precipitation: The formation of a solid from a solution.

• Reaction Arrow: Used to show the direction in which a chemical reaction proceeds.

• Oxidation: Loss of electrons.

• Acid: A substance that releases hydrogen ions (H+) in solution.

• Base: A substance that releases hydroxide ions (OH−) in solution.

• Indicator: A substance that changes color in response to a change in pH.

• Neutralization: A reaction between an acid and a base that produces a neutral solution.

• Decomposition: Breaking down of a compound into simpler substances.

• Rates of reaction: Speed of a chemical reaction.

• Collision factors: Affecting the rate of reaction.

• Temperature: Affecting the rate of reaction.

• Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the reaction.

• Surface area: Affecting rates of reactions

• Hypothesis: A testable statement that explains a phenomenon.

• Method: A detailed description of steps taken.

• Scatter graph: A graph that displays values of two different variables.

• Observation/inference: Explanation using observed evidence.

• Line of best fit: A line on a scatter graph that best represents the relationship between two variables.

• Anion: An ion with a negative charge.

• Cation: An ion with a positive charge.

Required Ions and Molecules

• Ion Name (cations): Include hydrogen, lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, aluminium, copper(II), zinc, silver, lead, iron(II), iron(III), and ammonia.
• Ion Formula: Include the respective formulas for corresponding ions.
• Ion Name (anions): Include chloride, bromide, iodide, oxide, nitride, sulfide, nitrate, carbonate, hydrogencarbonate, sulfate, phosphate, ethanoate, and hydroxide.
• Ion Formula: Include the respective formulas for corresponding anions.
• Covalent Molecules: Include water, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, ethanoic acid, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and methane.
• Covalent Formula: Include the respective formulas for corresponding covalent molecules.

Other Important Concepts

• Atomic number: The number of protons in an atom's nucleus.
• Mass number: The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.
• Isotope: Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
• Electron configuration: Arrangement of electrons in an atom.
• Valence electrons: Electrons in the outermost electron shell of an atom.
• Electron shell: Different energy levels occupied by electrons of an atom.
• Lewis diagram: Shows valence electrons around an atom.
• Bohr diagram: Shows the arrangement of electrons by energy levels around a nucleus.
• Electron dot diagram: A simplified representation of the valence electrons in an atom.
• Metal: A substance that is typically shiny, malleable, and a good conductor of heat and electricity.
• Non-metal: A substance that is generally dull, brittle, and a poor conductor of heat and electricity.
• Metalloid: A substance with properties intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals.
• Valency: The combining capacity of an element.
• Ion: A charged atom or molecule.
• Electronegativity: The ability of an atom to attract electrons toward itself in a chemical bond.