Term | Definition |
alloy | solid mixture of a metallic element and one or more additional elements |
amphiphilic | molecules possessing both hydrophobic (nonpolar) and a hydrophilic (polar) parts |
boiling point elevation | elevation of the boiling point of a liquid by addition of a solute |
boiling point elevation constant | the proportionality constant in the equation relating boiling point elevation to solute molality; also known as the ebullioscopic constant |
colligative property | property of a solution that depends only on the concentration of a solute species |
colloid | (also, colloidal dispersion) mixture in which relatively large solid or liquid particles are dispersed uniformly throughout a gas, liquid, or solid |
crenation | process whereby biological cells become shriveled due to loss of water by osmosis |
dispersed phase | substance present as relatively large solid or liquid particles in a colloid |
dispersion medium | solid, liquid, or gas in which colloidal particles are dispersed |
dissociation | physical process accompanying the dissolution of an ionic compound in which the compound’s constituent ions are solvated and dispersed throughout the solution |
electrolyte | substance that produces ions when dissolved in water |
emulsifying agent | amphiphilic substance used to stabilize the particles of some emulsions |
emulsion | colloid formed from immiscible liquids |
freezing point depression | lowering of the freezing point of a liquid by addition of a solute |
freezing point depression constant | (also, cryoscopic constant) proportionality constant in the equation relating freezing point depression to solute molality |
gel | colloidal dispersion of a liquid in a solid |
hemolysis | rupture of red blood cells due to the accumulation of excess water by osmosis |
Henry’s law | law stating the proportional relationship between the concentration of dissolved gas in a solution and the partial pressure of the gas in contact with the solution |
hypertonic | of greater osmotic pressure |
hypotonic | of less osmotic pressure |
ideal solution | solution that forms with no accompanying energy change |
immiscible | of negligible mutual solubility; typically refers to liquid substances |
ion pair | solvated anion/cation pair held together by moderate electrostatic attraction |
ion-dipole attraction | electrostatic attraction between an ion and a polar molecule |
isotonic | of equal osmotic pressure |
miscible | mutually soluble in all proportions; typically refers to liquid substances |
molality (m) | a concentration unit defined as the ratio of the numbers of moles of solute to the mass of the solvent in kilograms |
nonelectrolyte | substance that does not produce ions when dissolved in water |
osmosis | diffusion of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane |
osmotic pressure (Π) | opposing pressure required to prevent bulk transfer of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane |
partially miscible | of moderate mutual solubility; typically refers to liquid substances |
Raoult’s law | the partial pressure exerted by a solution component is equal to the product of the component’s mole fraction in the solution and its equilibrium vapor pressure in the pure state |
saturated | of concentration equal to solubility; containing the maximum concentration of solute possible for a given temperature and pressure |
semipermeable membrane | a membrane that selectively permits passage of certain ions or molecules |
solubility | extent to which a solute may be dissolved in water, or any solvent |
solvation | exothermic process in which intermolecular attractive forces between the solute and solvent in a solution are established |
spontaneous process | physical or chemical change that occurs without the addition of energy from an external source |
strong electrolyte | substance that dissociates or ionizes completely when dissolved in water |
supersaturated | of concentration that exceeds solubility; a nonequilibrium state |
Tyndall effect | scattering of visible light by a colloidal dispersion |
unsaturated | of concentration less than solubility |
van’t Hoff factor (i) | the ratio of the number of moles of particles in a solution to the number of moles of formula units dissolved in the solution |
weak electrolyte | substance that ionizes only partially when dissolved in water |