Chemistry: English Vocabulary List

a large molecule composed of repeating structural units, or monomers, covalently bonded together in a chain-like structure

"Plastic is a polymer made of many repeating small units linked together."

"A polymer is a large macromolecule composed of many repeating subunits called monomers"

each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, leading to variation in atomic mass

"Carbon has an isotope."

"Scientists use a rare isotope of carbon to determine the age of ancient fossils and artifacts."

containing or relating to a dangerous form of energy produced by nuclear reactions

"The waste is radioactive."

"The radioactive waste from the nuclear power plant must be stored in special containers for thousands of years until it becomes safe."

a chemical bond where atoms share electrons to form a stable molecule

"A covalent bond shares electrons."

"A covalent bond is a strong chemical link between atoms formed by the mutual sharing of one or more electron pairs between their outermost shells."

a type of chemical bond between two atoms involving the sharing of two pairs of electrons, resulting in a stronger and more stable connection than a single bond

"Carbon has a double bond."

"A double bond consists of two shared electron pairs."

defining substances or surfaces that have a strong attraction to water molecules, allowing them to easily absorb or interact with water

"This surface is hydrophilic."

"The hydrophilic material attracts water and it is used in contact lenses to keep them moist and comfortable for the wearer."

characterized by substances or surfaces that repel water molecules, showing little or no affinity for water

"The coating is hydrophobic."

"The hydrophobic coating repels water and it is often applied to car windshields so that rain beads up and rolls off easily."

a chemical reaction that releases heat energy to its surroundings, typically resulting in a temperature increase

"Combustion is exothermic."

"Burning wood is an exothermic reaction because it releases heat and light into the surrounding environment as the chemical bonds break and new ones form."

a chemical process that absorbs heat energy from its surroundings, often resulting in a temperature decrease

"Photosynthesis is endothermic."

"Photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction because plants absorb energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen."

the weighted average mass of an atom of an element, taking into account the masses of all its naturally occurring isotopes

"Carbon's atomic mass is twelve."

"The atomic mass is approximately the sum of protons and neutrons."

the total mass of all the atoms in a single molecule of a substance

"Water's molecular mass is eighteen."

"Molecular mass is the sum of atomic masses in a molecule."

the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom

"The mass number is high."

"Mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons."

a laboratory tool used to measure and transfer small volumes of liquid

"Use the pipette precisely."

"The technician used a pipette to transfer exactly one milliliter of the sample into the test tube without spilling any liquid."

a device that spins samples to separate components based on density

"Spin in the centrifuge."

"The lab technician placed the blood samples in a centrifuge and spun them rapidly to separate the plasma from the red blood cells."

a special paper treated with chemicals that change color in response to certain conditions, used to test for the presence of specific substances or measure pH levels

"Use indicator paper now."

"Litmus indicator paper changes color in acids and bases."

a tabular arrangement of chemical elements organized based on their atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties

"The periodic table organizes chemical elements."

"The periodic table organizes all known chemical elements into rows and columns based on their atomic number and similar chemical properties."

the process where calcium or calcium salts accumulate in a tissue, making it hard and rigid

"Calcification of arteries occurs."

"The doctor noticed calcification in the patient's arteries which meant that calcium deposits were hardening the vessel walls and restricting blood flow."

a laboratory method used to determine the concentration of a substance in a solution by gradually adding a reagent of known concentration until a reaction is completed

"Perform the titration carefully."

"The chemistry student performed a titration to determine the exact concentration of the unknown acid by adding a base until the solution changed color."

the process by which microorganisms convert carbohydrates into alcohol, acids, or gases

"Yeast causes fermentation."

"Fermentation produces alcohol and carbon dioxide."

a device used to analyze the chemical composition of small samples at a microscopic scale

"Researchers examined minerals using a microprobe carefully"

"The geologist used an electron microprobe to analyze the tiny mineral grains in the rock sample and identify their chemical composition."

a type of metallic material composed of three or more elements mixed together in varying proportions

"Engineers developed a durable multicomponent alloy recently"

"The multicomponent alloy was stronger than traditional metals because it contained five different elements."

(of actions, ideas, etc.) very new and different from the norm

"He has radical ideas."

"The radical new treatment for cancer involves editing the patient's own genes to help their immune system recognize and destroy the tumor cells."

a test that measures the presence, amount, or activity of a specific substance in a sample, often used in scientific and medical research

"The laboratory conducted an assay on samples"

"The lab performed an assay on the water sample to determine the concentration of lead and other heavy metals present in the supply."

the process of dispersing or dissolving a substance into a solvent to form a homogeneous solution

"Heat improved the solubilization of the compound"

"Solubilization helps dissolve hydrophobic substances in water."

the arrangement, composition, and characteristics of a material at a microscopic level

"Scientists analyzed the metal microstructure carefully"

"The metallurgist examined the metal's microstructure under a microscope to see the arrangement of grains and identify any defects that could weaken the material."

a tiny, tube-shaped structure made of carbon atoms, with remarkable strength and electrical properties

"Carbon nanotubes are very strong."

"Carbon nanotubes are incredibly strong and lightweight and scientists are researching how to use them in flexible electronics and new materials."

heated to a liquid state due to high temperatures

"The lava is molten."

"The molten lava flowed down the side of the volcano and destroyed everything in its path including trees houses and roads."

to eliminate or neutralize harmful substances

"This tea helps detoxify your body."

"The liver is the organ responsible for helping to detoxify harmful substances from your bloodstream."

denoting substances with a highly organized molecular structure, akin to crystals

"The structure is crystalline."

"The crystalline structure of the mineral gives it a sparkling appearance and jewelers cut it into beautiful gems for rings and necklaces."

a scientist who studies the structure and properties of crystals

"She is a crystallographer."

"The crystallographer used X ray diffraction to determine the three dimensional arrangement of atoms inside the newly discovered mineral crystal."

a scientist who studies the chemical composition and processes of celestial bodies to understand the formation and evolution of the universe

"A cosmochemist studies..."

"The cosmochemist analyzed meteorite fragments to learn about the chemical composition of asteroids and the early solar system."

a laboratory technique used to separate and analyze mixtures of substances based on their differential affinities for a stationary phase and a mobile phase

"Chromatography separates chemicals within complex mixtures effectively"

"Scientists use chromatography to identify unknown substances in forensic investigations."

a type of radioactive decay where a nucleus emits a beta particle (electron or positron) to transform a neutron into a proton or vice versa

"Beta decay process."

"Beta decay is a type of radioactivity where a neutron in an atom's nucleus turns into a proton and emits an electron."

not having an electrical charge

"The particle is uncharged."

"The uncharged particle has no electrical charge and it can pass through materials that would stop charged particles like electrons and protons."

a device that turns vapor into liquid by cooling it

"The condenser cools the steam into water."

"The distillation apparatus used a cold water condenser to turn the hot alcohol vapor back into a liquid for collection."

weak attractive forces between molecules or atoms, arising from temporary or induced dipoles

"Van der Waals forces."

"Van der Waal's forces are weak attractions between molecules that help geckos stick to walls and cause water to form droplets."

a scientist or engineer who specializes in the study and production of metals and alloys, including their properties, processing methods, and applications

"The metallurgist works..."

"The metallurgist studied how different heat treatments affected the strength and hardness of the steel used in car frames."

the process by which molecules of a substance adhere to the surface of a solid or liquid, forming a thin film or layer

"Activated carbon works through adsorption processes efficiently"

"The adsorption of pollutants onto activated charcoal helped purify the contaminated water."

a renewable, alternative fuel made from organic materials such as vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking grease

"Many buses now operate using biodiesel fuel"

"Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from vegetable oils."

a specific composition of a mixture of substances, typically metals or alloys, where the melting point is at its lowest possible temperature under atmospheric pressure

"The alloy formed a eutectic mixture naturally"

"The eutectic point has the lowest melting temperature."

a substance capable of absorbing and retaining a large amount of liquid relative to its own mass

"The diaper contains superabsorbent polymer materials inside"

"The superabsorbent polymer in diapers can hold many times its own weight in liquid."

having a tendency to undergo chemical reactions

"It is reactive."

"Certain elements are highly reactive and must be handled with extreme caution in a laboratory."

a fundamental unit in chemistry that represents the amount of substance containing as many entities (atoms, molecules) as there are in 12 grams of carbon-12

"One mole of water."

"One mole contains Avogadro's number of particles."

a container usually made of glass or plastic used in chemistry and laboratory

"Pour into the beaker."

"The chemistry student poured the blue liquid into a glass beaker and heated it over a Bunsen burner while stirring gently with a glass rod."

the measure of how much of a substance is present in a certain volume of solution

"The solution had high salt concentration levels"

"The concentration of salt in seawater is about 3.5%."

a group of atoms bonded together that behaves as a single unit within a molecule

"The radical moved."

"The hydroxyl radical is a highly unstable species that readily participates in chemical reactions."

a state in a chemical reaction where the forward and reverse reactions occur at the same rate, resulting in no net change in the concentrations of reactants and products

"The equilibrium was reached."

"The reaction reached a state of dynamic equilibrium where the rates of forward and reverse processes were equal."

(chemistry) the process of separating a liquid or solution into its parts by passing electricity through it

"Electrolysis of water."

"The scientist used electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases by passing an electric current through the liquid."

(of a solid) to become one with a liquid

"Sugar will dissolve in water."

"The sugar cubes gradually dissolve into the hot tea, sweetening it."

to make a solution or mixture weaker or less concentrated by adding more liquid

"Dilute the juice with water."

"You should dilute the concentrated cleaning solution before applying it to the surfaces."

to disperse fine particles throughout a fluid so they remain evenly distributed without settling

"Suspend the particles."

"The process is designed to suspend fine particles evenly throughout the liquid medium."

a phase is a distinct form of matter with uniform chemical and physical properties, separated from other forms by boundaries

"Water has three phases."

"The experiment involved observing the transition of the substance from a solid phase to a liquid phase."