Term | Definition |
Calibration | The process of using certain physical measurements to define the scale of a measuring device |
Calorie (cal) | The amount od heat necessary to warm one gram of water one degree Celsius |
Calorimeter | An experimental device that measures the heat released or absorbed during a chemical or physical change |
Calorimetry | An experimental process that measures the heat released or absorbed during a chemical or physical change |
Catalyst | A substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction without changing the concentration throughout the course of the reaction |
Catalytic converter | A device on an automobile that converts gaseous carbon monoxide that is produced by the engine, into gaseous carbon dioxide |
Cathode | The electrode at which reduction occurs |
Cathode ray tube | Another name for a Crooke's Tube |
Cation | A positive ion |
Celsius | A temperature scale defined so that water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees |
Change in Enthalpy (∆H) | The energy change that accompanies a chemical reaction |
Charles's Law | At constant pressure, the temperature and volume of gas linearly proportional. |
Chemical change | A change that effects the type of molecules or atoms in a substance |
Chemical equation | A representation of a chemical reaction |
Chemical equilibrium | The point at which both the forward and reverse reactions in a chemical equation have equal reaction rates: When this occurs, the amounts of each substance in the chemical reaction will not change, despite that both the chemical reactions still proceed. |
Chemical formula | A notation that indicates the number of type, of each element |
Chemical reaction | A process by which one or more substances change into one or more different substances |
Chemical symbol | An abbreviation for an element |
Complete combustion reaction | A reaction in which O₂ is added to a compound containing carbon and hydrogen, producing CO₂ and H₂O |
Compound | A substance that can be decomposed into elements by chemical means |
Condensing | The process by which a substance changes from its gas phase to its liquid phase |
Cones | The cells on the eyes retina that detects different energies of light; these cells are responsible for the ability of seeing color |
Continuous theory of matter | The idea that substances are composed of long, unbroken blobs of matter |
Covalent bond | A shared pair of valence electrons that holds atoms together in covalent compounds |
Covalent compound | A compound formed by atoms that share electrons |
Crookes tube | An experimental apparatus developed by William Crookes; it consists of a glass tube filled with a small amount of gas. Electrons in the tube allow for the passage of electricity through the gas. |
Decomposition | The process by which a substance is broken down into its constituent elements |
Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures | |
Decomposition reaction | A reaction that changes a compound into its constituent elements |
Density | An object's mass divided by the volume that the object occupies |
Derived unit | A unit formed by the multiplication and/or division of other elements |
Dilution | Adding water to a solution in order to decrease its concentration |
Dimensionless quantity | A quantity without units |
Diprotic acid | An acid that can donate two H+ ions |
Discontinuous theory of matter | The idea that substances are composed of tiny, individual particles; like grains of sand |
Double bond | A total of four electrons shared between atoms |
Dry cell | A battery made with no aqueous solutions |