Chemistry Core Vocabulary Flashcards

Grade 10 · Science · Flashcards

Build fluency with fundamental chemistry terms covering atoms, reactions, bonding, and the periodic table.

Flashcards

Element: A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means; defined by its atomic number.
Compound: A pure substance formed when two or more elements are chemically combined in a fixed ratio.
Ion: An atom or molecule that has gained or lost electrons, giving it a net electrical charge.
Cation: A positively charged ion formed when an atom loses electrons.
Anion: A negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains electrons.
Electronegativity: A measure of how strongly an atom attracts electrons in a chemical bond; increases across a period and up a group.
Electron Configuration: The arrangement of electrons in an atom's orbitals, written in notation such as 1s2 2s2 2p6.
Oxidation State: A number representing the hypothetical charge an atom would have if electrons were completely transferred in bonds.
Mole: The SI unit for amount of substance; 1 mole = 6.022 × 10^23 particles (Avogadro's number).
Exothermic Reaction: A chemical reaction that releases energy (heat) to the surroundings; products are lower in energy than reactants.
Endothermic Reaction: A chemical reaction that absorbs energy from the surroundings; products are higher in energy than reactants.
Catalyst: A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy, without being consumed in the process.
Activation Energy: The minimum energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.