Chemical Substances and Properties: English Vocabulary List

a substance that takes part in and undergoes a chemical reaction, leading to the formation of new products

"Reactants combine to form products."

"In this experiment, the two primary reactants combine to form a vibrant blue precipitate."

a substance or compound used in a chemical reaction to detect, examine, or produce other substances

"Add the blue reagent."

"The chemist carefully added the specific reagent to initiate the desired chemical reaction."

any of the elements in Group 18 of the periodic table, including helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon, characterized by their inert nature and stable electron configurations

"Helium is a noble gas."

"Noble gases are the elements in the far right column of the periodic table that are very stable and rarely react with other elements under normal conditions."

a group of non-reactive gases that typically exhibit low chemical reactivity due to their stable electron configurations

"Inert gas atmosphere."

"Helium and argon are common inert gases."

a type of chemical element found in Group 17 of the periodic table, known for being highly reactive and commonly used in disinfectants and lights

"Chlorine is a halogen."

"The halogen group on the periodic table includes elements like chlorine and fluorine that are highly reactive and are often used in disinfectants and toothpaste."

a durable plastic material used for packaging, bags, and various applications

"Polythene bags are harmful to the environment."

"The grocery bag was made of thin polythene plastic which is lightweight and waterproof but very harmful to wildlife if littered."

a lightweight and versatile synthetic polymer used in packaging, insulation, and disposable products

"Polystyrene containers are lightweight but environmentally harmful"

"Many restaurants have stopped using polystyrene packaging due to environmental concerns."

referring to the essential chemical element phosphorus, which is vital in biological processes and various industrial applications

"Phosphorous compounds are common."

"The phosphorous compound glows in the dark and it is used to make the hands of watches visible at night."

a colorless, volatile liquid solvent commonly used for removing nail polish and other substances from surfaces

"Acetone removes nail polish very quickly"

"Acetone is commonly used as nail polish remover."

a naturally occurring polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, commonly used in various industries for its thickening, gelling, and stabilizing properties

"Alginate from seaweed."

"Dentists use alginate to make molds of patients' teeth because the seaweed derived material sets quickly and captures fine details accurately."

a compound containing silicon and oxygen atoms, often forming minerals or glasses, with diverse applications in industry and nature

"Volcanic rocks often contain silicate minerals abundantly"

"Silicate compounds are essential components in the production of glass and ceramics."

a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice, known for its exceptional strength, electrical conductivity, and flexibility

"Graphene is strong."

"Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms in a lattice."

a naturally occurring organic compound found in many fruits that contributes to their sour taste

"Malic acid in apples."

"Malic acid gives green apples their sour taste."

a weak organic acid found naturally in citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, and limes, commonly used as a food additive for flavoring and preserving

"Citric acid in lemons."

"Citric acid is used as a food preservative."

a chemical compound that contains phosphorus and oxygen atoms, commonly found in salts or esters of phosphoric acid, important for biological processes and industrial applications

"Farmers added phosphate to improve crop growth"

"Phosphate is essential for plant growth and DNA structure."

a type of elementary particle that is one of the six types, or flavors, of quarks that has an electric charge of +2/3 and participates in strong and electromagnetic interactions

"The charm quark is a fundamental particle."

"The charm quark is one of the six types of quarks that make up subatomic particles like the J psi meson."

something that has specific chemicals or causes a chemical reaction that destroys harmful microorganisms such as bacteria

"Workers sprayed disinfectant throughout the entire building"

"Hospital staff must apply disinfectant regularly to prevent the spread of infections."

a chemical compound important for regulating pH balance, found in baking soda and crucial for bodily functions

"Bicarbonate helps regulate blood acidity levels"

"Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate which helps baked goods rise when combined with acid."

a substance that is dissolved in a solvent, resulting in a solution

"Salt is the solute in saltwater."

"A solute is the substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a homogeneous mixture"

having absorbed as much of a substance as possible at a given temperature, reaching its maximum concentration

"The sponge is saturated."

"The sponge was saturated with water and it could not absorb any more liquid so she had to wring it out."

extremely delicate, light, as if it belongs to a heavenly realm

"Ethereal mist floated gently."

"The ethereal music of the choir seemed to float down from heaven and everyone in the church sat in complete silence listening."

refering to substances that have a pH greater than 7, indicating a basic or non-acidic nature

"The soil is alkaline."

"The alkaline soil is not good for growing blueberries because these plants prefer acidic conditions with a lower pH level."

containing or relating to salt

"The solution is saline."

"The saline solution is used to clean wounds and it is also given intravenously to patients who are dehydrated."

(chemistry) a substance that causes a chemical reaction to happen at a faster rate without undergoing any chemical change itself

"Catalyst speeds up reaction."

"A catalyst is a substance that lowers the activation energy of a chemical reaction"

a solution containing a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate acid, which maintains a stable pH when small amounts of acid or base are added

"Chemists added buffer to stabilize the solution"

"The laboratory technician prepared a buffer to keep the pH level constant."

(of a solution) containing volatile or highly flammable substances, such as diethyl ether

"The solution was ethereal."

"The ethereal solution, highly flammable, required careful handling due to its volatile nature."

describing chemical compounds that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds and are typically derived from minerals or non-living matter

"The chemical is inorganic."

"The inorganic compound does not contain carbon and it includes substances like salt metals and minerals that are found in the earth."

a liquid that is capable of dissolving another substance

"Water is a common solvent."

"A non-polar solvent is effective at dissolving oils and other non-polar substances."