Quizlet

Basic Chemistry

Basic Chemistry

matter
anything that occupies space and has mass
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26 terms

Terms

Definitions

matter anything that occupies space and has mass
element a pure substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical reactions
compound substance containing two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio
atom the smallest particle of an element that retains the properties of the element
proton subatomic particle having a positive charge; found in nucleus
electron subatomic particle having a negative charge; not in nucleus but surrounds it
neutron subatomic particle without a charge; found in nucleus
nucleus protons and neutrons together; make up the center of an atom
atomic number identifies a specific element; equals the number of protons in an atom of each element
radioactive isotope an unstable atom in which the nucleus decays (breaks down) releasing particles and energy
isotope atoms having the same numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons
ionic bond occurs when atoms transfer electrons to other atoms
ion atoms that have lost or gained electrons
covalent bond occurs when atoms share electrons
molecule atoms that are held together by covalent bonds
chemical reaction interaction of substances that lead to the formation of new substances
reactant the starting materials for a reaction; found on left side of chemical equation
product ending materials of a reaction; found on right side of chemical equation
organic compound substance made of two or more elements, one being carbon
inorganic compound substance made of two or more elements, none of which is carbon
valence electrons electrons in the outermost energy level; they are involved in bond formation
single bond a covalent bond in which one pair of electrons is shared
double bond a covalent bond in which four valence electrons are shared between two atoms
chemical formula indicates the number and types of atoms in a molecule
structural formula shows the number and types of atoms in a molecule and how they are arranged
chemical reaction indicates the formation of new substances from previous substances