Chemistry Vocabulary Quiz

Chemistry Vocabulary

• WHMIS: Canada's national hazard communication standard for hazardous materials.
• Matter: Anything with mass and occupies space.
• Element: A pure substance, not broken down chemically.
• Compound: Two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio.
• Pure Substance: Material with consistent composition and properties.
• Mixture: Combination of substances retaining individual properties.
• Heterogeneous Mixture: Components are unevenly distributed.
• Homogeneous Mixture: Components evenly distributed (solution).
• Physical Properties: Observable/measurable without changing identity (color, density, melting point).
• Chemical Properties: Describing ability to change into other substances (flammability, reactivity).
• Physical Change: Affects form, not chemical composition.
• Chemical Change: Forms one or more new substances.
• Atomic Mass: Weighted average of an element's atoms (amu).
• Atomic Number: Number of protons, defining element identity.
• Ionic Compound: Formed by electrostatic attraction of ions.
• Molecular Compound: Formed by covalent bonds between nonmetals.
• Ion and Ion Charge: Atom/group with gained or lost electrons (positive/negative charge).
• Chemical Reaction: Substances (reactants) change to new substances (products).
• Exothermic Reaction: Releases energy (usually heat).
• Endothermic Reaction: Absorbs energy (usually heat).
• Law of Conservation of Mass: Mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.
• Protons: Positively charged particles in the atom's nucleus.
• Neutrons: Neutral particles in the atom's nucleus.
• Electrons: Negatively charged particles orbiting the nucleus.
• Bohr Model: Electrons orbit nucleus in defined energy levels.
• Cation: Positively charged ion.
• Anion: Negatively charged ion.

Environmental Chemistry Vocabulary

• Organic Compounds: Compounds containing carbon (usually with hydrogen, oxygen).
• Inorganic Compounds: Compounds not containing carbon-hydrogen bonds (salts, metals).
• Nutrients (Macronutrients & Micronutrients): Substances for energy, growth, maintenance. Macronutrients are needed in large amounts. Micronutrients are needed in smaller amounts.
• Carbohydrates: Organic molecules (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) providing energy.
• Lipids: Fats and oils, store energy, form cell membranes.
• Proteins: Large molecules of amino acids (enzymes, structural components).
• Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA, store/transmit genetic information.
• Vitamins: Organic compounds needed in small amounts for metabolism.
• Minerals: Inorganic nutrients for physiological functions.
• Saturated Fat: Fats with no double bonds (solid at room temp).
• Unsaturated Fat: Fats with one or more double bonds (liquid at room temp).
• Trans Fat: Unsaturated fats, hydrogenated; associated with health risks.
• Diffusion: Movement of particles from high to low concentration.
• Osmosis: Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.
• Absorption: Uptaking of substances into tissues/cells.
• Ingestion: Taking in food/substances.
• Biomagnification: Toxin concentration increasing up the food chain.
• Bioaccumulation: Buildup of substances in organism tissues over time.
• Dissolved Nitrates and Phosphates: Water nutrients causing algal blooms and eutrophication.
• Toxicity: Degree substance can harm organisms.
• PPM (Parts Per Million): Unit for small concentrations.
• PPB (Parts Per Billion): Unit for even smaller concentrations.
• PPT (Parts Per Trillion): Unit for extremely small concentrations.
• LD50: Lethal dose killing 50% of a test population.
• Pesticide: Chemical to kill pests (insects, weeds, fungi).
• Remediation: Cleaning up environmental contaminants.
• Biodegradation: Breakdown of organic substances by organisms.
• Dispersion: Scattering of substances in air, water, or soil.
• Effluent: Liquid waste discharged into water.
• Groundwater: Water beneath Earth's surface in soil/rock.
• Leach: Substances washed out of soil by water.
• Biological Indicators: Organisms monitoring environmental or ecosystem health.
• Acid: Increases H+ concentration in a solution.
• Base: Increases OH– concentration in a solution.
• pH (pH Scale): Scale measuring acidity/basicity (0-14).
• Neutralization: Acid and base reaction producing water and salt.
• Pollution: Introduction of harmful substances/energy into the environment.
• Pollutant: Substance causing pollution.
• Dissolved Oxygen: Oxygen in water; essential for aquatic life.
• Turbidity: Cloudiness/haziness of liquid caused by suspended particles.
• Dilution: Reducing concentration by adding more solvent.
• Eutrophication: Water enrichment with nutrients, leading to excessive plant/algae growth.
• Universal Indicator: Chemical changing color to show pH.
• Litmus Paper: Indicator paper turning red/blue in acid/base.
• Acid Rain: Acidic rainfall due to atmospheric pollution.
• Tailings Ponds: Man-made reservoirs for mining waste.