A dictionary of chemistry

Atom: An atom is the basic unit of matter. It consists of a

nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by
electrons in energy levels or shells.
Molecule: A molecule is a group of atoms held together by
chemical bonds. It represents the smallest unit of a compound
that retains its chemical properties.
Chemical Bond: A chemical bond is the force of attraction that
holds atoms together in a compound. It can be covalent, where
atoms share electrons, or ionic, where electrons are transferred
between atoms.
Periodic Table: The Periodic Table is a tabular arrangement of
elements based on their atomic number and chemical
properties. It provides a systematic way to organize and
understand the elements.
Acid: An acid is a substance that donates protons (H+) in a
chemical reaction. Acids have a pH less than 7 and can react
with bases to form salts.
Base: A base is a substance that accepts protons (H+) or
donates hydroxide ions (OH-) in a chemical reaction. Bases have
a pH greater than 7 and can neutralize acids.
pH Scale: The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a
substance. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, values
below 7 indicating acidity, and values above 7 indicating
alkalinity.
Oxidation: Oxidation is a chemical process that involves the loss
of electrons or an increase in oxidation state. It often involves
the reaction of a substance with oxygen or other
electronegative elements.
Reduction: Reduction is a chemical process that involves the
gain of electrons or a decrease in oxidation state. It is often the
opposite of oxidation and occurs simultaneously in a redox
reaction.
Chemical Equation: A chemical equation is a symbolic
representation of a chemical reaction. It shows the reactants,
products, and their respective stoichiometry using chemical
formulas and coefficients.
Isotope: Isotopes are variants of an element that have the same
number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. They
have slightly different atomic masses but exhibit similar
chemical behavior.
Reactant: A reactant is a substance that participates in a
chemical reaction and undergoes a change. It is consumed
during the reaction to form products.
Product: A product is a substance that is formed as a result of a
chemical reaction. It is produced from the reactants and may
have different physical or chemical properties.
Catalyst: A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a
chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. It
provides an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation
energy.
Solvent: A solvent is a substance capable of dissolving other
substances to form a solution. It is usually the component
present in greater quantity in a solution.
Solution: A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more
substances, where the solute is dissolved in the solvent. It can
be a solid, liquid, or gas mixture.
Polymer: A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating
subunits called monomers. It exhibits unique physical and
chemical properties and is often used in materials science and
industry.
Stoichiometry: Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that
deals with the quantitative relationships between reactants and
products in a chemical reaction. It involves
Exothermic Reaction: An exothermic reaction is a chemical
reaction that releases energy in the form of heat to the
surroundings. It is often accompanied by a rise in temperature
and can be spontaneous.
Endothermic Reaction: An endothermic reaction is a chemical
reaction that absorbs energy from the surroundings in the form
of heat. It is often accompanied by a decrease in temperature
and requires an external energy source.