Yvonne Choo Shuen Lann

Definitions for Chemistry SPM ( Form 4 )

Chemistry

- The study of the composition, structure, properties and interactions of matter.

Matter

- Substances that have mass and occupy space.

Atom

- Smallest particle that can participate in chemical reaction.

Molecule

- Group of 2 or more atoms which are chemically bonded together.

Ion

- Charged particle.

Isotopes

- Atoms of the same element with the same number of proton but different number of
neutrons.

Nucleon Number

- The total number of proton and neutron in an atom.

Relative atomic mass (RAM)

- Number of times the mass of an atom is greater than 1/12 times of the mass of a carbon-12
atom. The relative mass of carbon-12 atom is 12.000.

Mole

- An amount of substance that contains as many particle as the number of atoms in exactly
12g of carbon-12.

Avogadro Constant NA

- Number of particles in one mole of substance of units, molecules or atoms.

Molar mass

- The volume occupied by one mole of gas.

Chemical Formulae

- The representation of a chemical substance by using letters for atoms and subscript number
to show the number of each type of atoms that are present in the substance.
 Yvonne Choo Shuen Lann

Empirical Formulae

- The formula that shows the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element in the
compound.

Molecular Formulae

- The formula that shows the actual number of atoms of each element that are present in a
molecule of the compound.
- Molecular formula = (empirical formula)n

Chemical equation

- The shorthand description of a chemical reaction.

Periodic table of element

a) Lavoisier
- Classify into groups

b) Dobereiner
- Group of 3 element – triads
- Middle element having RAM equal average RAM of the other two elements.

c) Newland
- Arrange in order of increasing atomic mass
- Every eight element having similar properties (law of octaves)
- Periodic pattern for the properties.

d) Lothar Meyer
- Graph of atomic volume against mass
- Elements having similar properties (located at the same relative position)

e) Mendeleev
- Arrange in order of increasing atomic mass
- Make a few important changes
i) Element with similar properties in the same group
ii) Empty spaces for undiscovered elements (germanium)
iii) Predict the properties of undiscovered element

f) Moseley
- Graph of 𝑣 against proton number (directly proportional)
- Suggest elements arrange in order of increasing proton number
- Modern periodic table
i) Elements are arranged according to increasing proton number.
 Yvonne Choo Shuen Lann

Group

- The vertical column of elements in a periodic table

Period

- The horizontal rows of elements across the periodic table.

Electro negativity

- The measurement of the strength of an atom in its molecule to attract electron towards its
nucleus.

Group 18

- Melting and boiling point increase

i) Because atomic size of each element increases down the group, force of attraction
between the atoms of each element becomes stronger. Thus more heat energy is
required to overcome the stronger forces of attraction during melting/boiling.

- Atomic size increases

i) When going down the group, the number of shells occupied with electrons
increases.

- Density increases
i) Because the increases in atomic mass is bigger compared to the increase in volume.

Group 1

- Atomic size increases

i) When going down the group, the number of shells occupied with electrons
increases.

- Density increases
i) The increase in atomic mass is bigger than the increase in atomic radius.

- Melting and boiling point increase

i) The metallic bond between the atoms becomes weaker down the group as the
atomic radius increase. Thus less heat energy is required to overcome the weaker
forces of attraction between the atoms during melting/boiling.

- Electro positivity of the metals increases

i) As atomic radius becomes larger down the group, the force of attraction between
the nucleus and the single valence electron becomes weaker. Hence, the elements
lose the single valence electron more easily down the group.
 Yvonne Choo Shuen Lann

- Reactivity increase
i) Reactivity increases because the atomic size increase, the valence electron in the
outermost shell becomes further away from the nucleus. Hence, attraction between
nucleus and valence electron becomes weaker. Thus, the atoms can easily donate
the single valence electron to achieve the stable electron arrangement of the atom
of noble gas.

Group 17

- Reactivity decrease
i) This is because the atomic size of halogen increases. Thus, the outermost occupied
shell of each halogen atom becomes further from the nucleus. Thus, the strength to
attract one electron into the valence shell by the nucleus becomes weaker.

Period 3

- Atomic size decreases from left to right

i) The proton number increases from left to right
ii) The nuclei charge, positive charge in the nucleus increases
iii) Nuclei attraction force between the nucleus and the valence electron increase
iv) Valence electron becomes closer to the nucleus
v) Thus, the atomic size becomes smaller

Transitional Elements

- The elements from group 3 to group 12 in the periodic table.

Catalyst

- A substance used in a chemical reaction to speed up the reaction without itself being
affected.

Ionic Bond

- A chemical bond that involves metal atom and non-metal atom where the metal atom
donates electron to form positive ion (cation) while non-metal atom accepts electron to
form negative ion (anion).

- High Melting and Boiling Point

i) The atoms are held together by strong ionic bond. Thus, more energy is needed to
overcome the strong electrostatic forces between the atoms.

- Electrical Conductivity
i) Solid- The ionic compound cannot conduct electricity because the ions in the
compound are constricted in the crystal lattice and unable to move freely.
ii) Molten/Aqueous- The ionic compound can conduct electricity because there are
freely moving ions which carry charges.
 Yvonne Choo Shuen Lann

Covalent Bond

- A chemical bond that involves only non-metal atoms where electrons are shared to achieve
stable duplet or octet electron arrangements.

- Low Melting and Boiling Point

i) The covalent molecules are held together by weak intermolecular force. Thus, less
energy is needed to overcome the bonds between the covalent molecules.

- Electrical Conductivity
i) Covalent compound cannot conduct electricity in any form as the molecules present
in the compound are neutral. There are no ions present and no charge.

Electrolytes

- Substances that can conduct electricity when they are in molten or aqueous solution and
undergoes chemical changes.

Non- Electrolytes

- Substance that cannot conduct electricity either in molten or aqueous solution.

Electrolysis

- A process whereby compounds in molten or aqueous solution are broken down into their
constituent element by passing electricity through them.

Anode

- The electrode that is connected to the positive terminal of a battery

- The negatively charged terminal of a voltaic cell

Cathode

- The electrode that is connected to the negative terminal of a battery

- The positively charged terminal of a voltaic cell

Voltaic Cell

- An electrochemical cell that produces electrical energy from chemical energy

Daniell Cell

- Zinc and Copper as electrodes

Porous Pot/ Salt Bridge

- Avoid the solutions from mixing and still allow electrical contact between the two solutions.
 Yvonne Choo Shuen Lann

Batteries

a) Lead-acid Accumulator
Pro: Rechargeable, can produce large voltage
Cons: Heavy, expensive, Spoil easily

b) Dry Cell
Pro: Portable, cheap, provides stable voltage (1.5V)
Cons: Not rechargeable

c) Mercury Cell
Pro: Portable
Cons: Not rechargeable, 1.3V only, poisonous

d) Alkaline Cell
Pro: Portable, 1.5V, longer lasting
Cons: Not rechargeable, leak

e) Nickel-Cadmium Cell
Pro: Portable, rechargeable up to 100 times
Cons: Produce low voltage of 1.25V, expensive, heavy

Acid

- Chemical substance which ionizes in water to produce hydrogen ions, H+

Base

- Chemical substance which ionizes in water to produce hydroxide ions, OH-

Alkalis

- Soluble base

Water

- Help bases to dissociate to produce hydroxide ions, OH-

- Without water, acid or base cannot exhibits their properties

pH

- The measure of the concentration of H+ and OH-

- The higher the concentration of H+, the lower the pH
- The higher the concentration of OH-, the higher the pH

Strength of Acid

- Depends on the degree of ionization or dissociation of the acid in water

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Strong Acid

- Acid which ionizes completely with water to form hydrogen ion, H+(HCl)

Weak Acid

- Acid which partially ionized in water (CH3COOH)

Strong Alkali

- Alkali which ionizes completely with water to form hydroxide ion, OH-(NaOH)

Weak Alkali

- Alkali which partially ionizes in water to form hydroxide ion, OH-(NH3)

Standard Solution

- Solution with an accurate concentration

Neutralisation

- Reaction of an acid and a base.

Monoprotic Acid

- One molecule of acid dissociates or ionizes in water to form one hydrogen ion, H+

Diprotic Acid

- One molecule of acid dissociates or ionizes in water to form two hydrogen ion, H+

Triprotic Acid

- One molecule of acid dissociates or ionizes in water to form three hydrogen ion, H+

Salt

- A compound formed when the hydrogen ion, H+ from an acid is replaced by a metal ion or an
ammonium ion.

Alloys

- A mixture of 2 or more elements with a certain fixed composition in which the major
component is metal (elements combined physically)

Polymers

- Large molecules made up of many identical repeating sub-unit called monomers which are
joined together by covalent bond
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Monomers

- A simple compound/ basic unit whose molecules can join together to form polymers

Polymerisation

- A chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer or polymeric

compound

Composite materials

- A structural material that is formed by combining two or more different substances such as
metal, alloys, ceramics, glass and polymers