AS Chemistry Definitions

1. Relative atomic mass – the weighted average mass of one

atom of the element relative to one-twelfth the mass of one
atom of 12C

2. Relative isotopic mass – the mass of one atom of the isotope

relative to one-twelfth the mass of one atom of 12C

3. Relative molecular mass – the mass of a molecule measured

on a scale in which an atom of the 12C isotope has a mass of
exactly 12 units

4. Relative formula mass – the mass of one formula unit of a

compound measured on a scale in which an atom of the 12C
isotope has a mass of exactly 12 units

5. Mole – the amount of substance that has the same number of

particles (atoms, ions, molecules or electrons) as there are
atoms in exactly 12g of the 12C isotope

6. Avogadro constant (L or NA) – is the number of atoms

(6.02 × 1023 atoms) in exactly 12g of the 12C isotope

7. Empirical formula – the simplest whole number ratio of the

elements present in one molecule or formula unit of the
compound

8. Molecular formula – the actual number of atoms of each

element in one molecule of a compound

9. Nucleon number – sum of the numbers of protons and

neutrons

10. Isotopes – are atoms of the same element with different

nucleon (mass) numbers
11. First ionisation energy – the energy needed to remove one
electron from each atom in one mole of atoms of the
element in the gaseous state to form one mole of gaseous 1+
ions

12. Atomic orbitals – a region of space around the nucleus of an

atom that can be occupied by one or two electrons

13. Electronegativity – the ability of a particular atom, which is

covalently bonded to another atom, to attract the bond pair
of electrons towards itself

14. Bond energy – the energy needed to break 1 mole of a

particular bond in 1 mole of gaseous molecules

15. Bond length – the mean distance between the nuclei of two
atoms that are bonded together in a molecule

16. Bond polarity –the unequal distribution of electrons in a

covalent bond

17. Co-ordinate bond – a covalent bond in which both electrons

in the bond come from the same atom

18. Ideal gas – a gas whose volume varies in proportion to the

temperature and in inverse proportion to the pressure

19. Melting – change of state from solid to liquid

20. Vaporisation – change of state from liquid to gas

21. Vapour pressure – the pressure exerted by a vapour in
equilibrium with a liquid

22. Alloy – a mixture of two or more metals or a metal with a

non-metal

23. Standard enthalpy change of reaction – the enthalpy

change when the amounts of reactants shown in the
equation react to give products under standard conditions

24. Standard enthalpy change of formation – the enthalpy

change when one mole of a compound is formed from its
elements under standard conditions

25. Standard enthalpy change of combustion – the enthalpy

change when one mole of a substance is burnt in excess
oxygen under standard conditions

26. Standard enthalpy change of hydration (of an anhydrous

salt) – the enthalpy change when one mole of a hydrated salt
is formed from one mole of the anhydrous salt under standard
conditions

27. Standard enthalpy change of solution – the enthalpy

change when one mole of solute is dissolved in a solvent to
form an infinitely dilute solution under standard conditions

28. Standard enthalpy change of neutralisation – the enthalpy

change when one mole of water is formed by the reaction of
an acid with an alkali under standard conditions
29. Standard enthalpy change of atomisation – the enthalpy
change when one mole of gaseous atoms is formed from its
elements under standard conditions

30. Hess’ law – the total enthalpy change in a chemical reaction

is independent of the route by which the chemical reaction
takes place as long as the initial and final conditions are the
same

31. Oxidation – gain of oxygen by an element OR removal of

hydrogen from a compound OR loss of electrons OR an
increase in oxidation number

32. Reduction – loss of oxygen by an element OR addition of

hydrogen to a compound OR gain of electrons OR a
decrease in oxidation number

33. Oxidising agent – a reactant that increases the oxidation

number of (or removes electrons from) another reactant

34. Reducing agent – a reactant that decreases the oxidation

number of (or adds electrons to) another reactant

35. Redox reaction – a reaction in which oxidation and

reduction take place at the same time

36. Reversible reaction – a reaction in which products can be

changed back to reactants by reversing the conditions
37. Dynamic equilibrium – a state of balance in which the rate of
the forward reaction is equal to the rate of the backward
reaction

38. Closed system – a system in which matter or energy is not lost

or gained

39. Le Chatelier’s principle – if the conditions of a system in

equilibrium are changed, the position of equilibrium shifts to
the direction that reduces the change

40. Acid – a substance that neutralises a base

41. Base – a substance that neutralises an acid

42. Alkali – a base that is soluble in water

43. Brønsted-Lowry acid – a proton (H+ ion) donor

44. Brønsted-Lowry base – a proton (H+ ion) acceptor

45. Strong acids – acids that completely dissociate in solution

46. Weak acids – acids that are only partially dissociated in

solution

47. Strong bases – bases that completely dissociate in solution

48. Weak bases - bases which dissociate to only a small extent
in solution

49. Rate of reaction – the rate of change in the amount of

reactants or products

50. Activation energy – the minimum energy that colliding

particles must possess for a successful collision that results in a
reaction to take place

51. Catalyst – a substance that increases the rate of a reaction

but remains chemically unchanged itself at the end of the
reaction

52. Catalysis – the process of increasing the rate of a chemical

reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst

53. Homogeneous catalysis – the type of catalysis in which the

catalyst and reactants are in the same phase

54. Heterogeneous catalysis – the type of catalysis in which the

catalyst is in a different phase from the reactants

55. Enzyme – a protein molecule that acts as an enzyme

56. Periodicity – the repeating patterns in the physical and

chemical properties of the elements across the periods of the
Periodic Table
57. Thermal decomposition – the breakdown of a compound
into two or more different substances using heat

58. Volatility – how easily a substance can evaporate

59. Disproportionation – the simultaneous reduction and

oxidation of the same species in a chemical reaction

60. Hydrocarbons – are compounds of carbon and hydrogen

only

61. Functional group – the atom or group of atoms which gives

an organic compound its properties

62. Structural isomers – compounds with the same molecular

formula but different structural formulae

63. Stereoisomers – compounds whose molecules have the

same atoms bonded to each other but with different
arrangements of the atoms in space

64. Optical isomers – stereoisomers that exist as two non-

superimposable mirror images

65. Chiral centre – a carbon atom with four different groups

attached

66. Homolytic fission – the breaking of a covalent bond to make

two uncharged atoms or groups of atoms, each with an
unpaired electron
67. Free radical – very reactive atom or molecule that has a
single unpaired electron

68. Heterolytic fission – the breaking of a covalent bond to make

a positive ion and negative ion

69. Carbocation – an alkyl group carrying a single positive

charge on one of its carbon atoms

70. Electrophile – an acceptor of a pair of electrons

71. Nucleophile – a donator of a pair of electrons

72. Hydrolysis – breakdown of a compound by water, which is

often speeded up by reacting with acid or alkali

73. Condensation reaction – a reaction in which two organic

molecules join together and in the process eliminate a small
molecule e.g. water or hydrogen chloride

74. Saturated hydrocarbon – compounds of hydrogen and

carbon only in which the C-C bonds are all single covalent
bonds, resulting in the maximum number of hydrogen atoms
in their molecules

75. Unsaturated hydrocarbon – compounds of hydrogen and

carbon only whose molecules contain carbon-to-carbon
double bonds or triple bonds
76. Monomer – a small, reactive molecule that reacts to make
long-chain molecules called polymers

77. Polymer – a long-chain molecule made up of many

repeating units

78. Infra-red spectroscopy – a technique for identifying

compounds based on the change in vibrations of particular
atoms when infra-red radiation of specific frequencies is
absorbed

Made by u/Rakki_Yajirushi GOOD LUCK FOR YOUR EXAMS!