Chemistry Form 4 Definition List

1. Element a substance consisting of one type of atom.

2. Compound a substance consisting of two or more elements that are chemically bonded.
3. Atom smallest particle of an element.
4. Molecule a group of two or more atoms.
5. Ion a positively charged / negatively charged particle.
6. Proton number number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
7. Nucleon number total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
8. Isotopes atoms of the same element with the same proton number but different nucleon
numbers.
9. Valence electron electron in the outermost shell of the atom.
10. Relative atomic mass of an element - the average mass of one atom of an element when
compared with 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
11. Molecular formula a formula that shows the actual number of atoms of each element in a
compound.
12. Empirical formula a formula that shows the simplest ratio of atoms of each element in a
compound.
13. One mole quantity of substance which contains the same number of particles as there are in
12g of carbon-12.
14. Ionic bond bond which is formed by the transfer of electrons between metal atoms and non-
metal atoms to achieve the stable duplet or octet electron arrangement.
15. Covalent bond bond which is formed through the sharing of electrons between non-metal
atoms to achieve the stable duplet or octet electron arrangement.
16. Acid chemical substance which ionizes in water to produce hydrogen ions, H
+
or
hydroxonium ions, H
3
O
+
.
17. Electrolyte substance that can conduct electricity either in molten or aqueous state and
undergoes chemical changes.
18. Electrolysis a process whereby compounds in molten or aqueous state (electrolytes) are
broken down into their constituent elements by passing electricity through them.
19. Voltaic cell a device which converts chemical energy to electrical energy.
20. Electrochemical series an arrangement of elements based on their tendencies to form ions.
21. Acid - chemical substance which ionizes in water to produce hydroxide ions, OH
-
or
hydroxonium ions, H
3
O
+
.
22. Base chemical substance that can neutralize an acid to produce salt and water only.
23. Alkali - chemical substance which ionizes in water to produce hydroxide ions, OH
-
.
24. pH value a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, H
+
and hydroxide ions, OH
-
.
25. Strong alkali alkali which ionizes (dissociates) completely in water to form high concentration
of hydroxide ions, OH
-
.
26. Weak alkali alkali which ionizes (dissociates) partially in water to form low concentration of
hydroxide ions, OH
-
.
27. Strong acid acid which ionizes (dissociates) completely in water to form high concentration of
hydrogen ions, H
+
.
28. Weak acid acid which ionizes (dissociates) partially in water to form low concentration of
hydrogen ions, H
+
.
29. Neutralisation - the reaction between an acid and a base or alkali to produce salt and water.
30. Salt a compound formed when the hydrogen ion in an acid is replaced by a metal ion or
ammonium ion, NH
4
+
.
31. Qualitative analysis of salt a scheme of test carried out to identify the cation and anion
present in a salt.
32. Alloy a mixture of two or more elements in a certain fixed composition in which the major
element is a metal.
33. Polymer large molecules made up of many smaller and identical repeating units (monomers)
joined together by covalent bonds.
34. Synthetic polymers polymers made in the industry from chemical substances.
35. Composite material structural material formed by combining two or more materials with
different physical properties to produce a complex mixture.


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