List of Definitions for H2 Chemistry

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Atoms, Molecules and Stoichiometry

1. The relative atomic mass (Ar) of an element is defined as the average mass of one atom
compared to 1/12 the mass of a 12C atom.
OR
The relative atomic mass (Ar) of an element is defined as the mass of one mole of
atoms compared to 1/12 the mass of one mole of 12C atoms.

2. The relative isotopic mass of an isotope (of a particular element) is defined as the mass
of one isotope compared to 1/12 the mass of a 12C atom.

3. The relative molecular mass of a molecule is defined as the average mass of one
molecule compared to 1/12 the mass of a 12C atom.

4. The relative formula mass of an ionic compound is defined as the average mass of one
formula unit compared to 1/12 the mass of a 12C atom.
OR
The relative formula mass of an ionic compound is defined as the mass of one mole of
formula units compared to 1/12 the mass of one mole of 12C atoms.

5. A mole of substance is defined as the amount of substance that contains as many entities
(atoms, molecules, ions, electrons or any other particles) as the number of atoms in 12g of
the carbon-12.

It is equal to 6.022 X 1023, which is called the Avogadro constant or Avogadro number.

; ; (for gases only)

Redox Reactionbs

6. Oxidation is a process where a chemical species loses electrons; (Oxidation Is Loss)

Reduction is a process where a chemical species gains electrons. (Reduction Is Gain)

A redox reaction refers to a reaction where oxidation and reduction occurs simultaneously.

7. An oxidising agent is a species that accepts / gains electrons (is reduced) n a reaction.
A reducing agent is a species that donates / loses electrons (is oxidised) in a reaction.

8. A disproportionation reaction is a redox reaction in which one species is simultaneously

oxidised and reduced.

e.g. 2Cu+ Cu + Cu2+

Chemistry Definitions 1
Atomic Structure

9. Atomic number of an element refers to the number of protons it contains.

Mass number (nucleon number) refers to the sum of the protons and neutrons it contains.

10. Isotopes refer to atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different
number of neutrons.

11. An atomic orbital is defined as a region of three-dimensional space around the nucleus,
whereby there is a 95% chance of locating a particular electron. Each orbital has a
characteristic energy level and shape. For A level syllabus, you need to know the shapes
of s and p orbitals.
Chemical Bonding

12. Valence-shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory is a model used to predict the
shape of individual molecules based upon the extent of electron-pair electrostatic
repulsion.

Lone pair lone pair repulsion > Lone pair bond pair repulsion > Bond pair bond pair
repulsion

13. Metallic bond is the electrostatic attraction between positively charged cations and the
sea of delocalised electrons.

14. Electrovalent (Ionic) bond is the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
which have been formed by the transfer of one or more electrons to achieve the stable
electronic configuration of a noble gas.

Coordination number of an ion in an ionic compound refers to the number of

neighboring oppositely charged ions.

15. Covalent bond is the electrostatic force of attraction of the nuclei of the 2 atoms for the
shared pair(s) of electrons between them.

16. Dative / Co-ordinate Covalent bond is a covalent bond in which a pair of electrons is
shared between 2 atoms but ONLY ONE of them provides both electrons that make up the
bond.

17. Electronegativity refers to the ability/tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a bond

towards itself. Electronegativity increases across the period and decreases down a group.
18. Permanent dipole-permanent dipole interactions are a type of intermolecular forces
between polar molecules (molecules with a net dipole moment) which have a simple
covalent structure.

Chemistry Definitions 2
 19. Instantaneous dipole-induced dipole interactions are a type of intermolecular forces
between non-polar molecules (molecules with NO NET dipole moment) which have a
simple covalent structure.

20. Hydrogen bonds are a special case of permanent dipole-permanent dipole interactions,
whereby there is an attractive interaction of a hydrogen atom with an electronegative atom,
such as nitrogen, oxygen or fluorine (typically from another molecule). Do not confuse this
with a covalent bond between H and N, O or F.
The Gaseous State

21. Basic Assumptions of kinetic theory of gases

Gases consist of small particles of negligible size/volume as compared to the size
of the container.
Gas particles have negligible intermolecular forces of attraction between each
other.
Collisions between gas particles are perfectly elastic. I.e. there is no loss of kinetic
energy upon collision.
22. Ideal Gas equation PV = nRT
Use Pa for Pressure, m3 for volume and K for temperature

1 atm = 1.01 x 105 Pa

Pressure 1 bar = 1 x 105 Pa
760 mmHg = 1.01 x 105 Pa
1 dm3 = 10-3 m3
Volume
1 cm3 = 10-6 m3
Temperature T(K) = T(C) + 273
Temperature = 273 K (0C)
At s.t.p Pressure = 1.01 X 105 Pa (1 atm)
Molar volume = 0.0224 m3
At r.t.p Temperature = 298 K (25C)
(standard Pressure = 1.01 x 105 Pa (1 atm)

conditions) Molar volume = 0.024 m3

Chemistry Definitions 3
Chemical Energetics

23. Hess law states that the change in enthalpy accompanying a reaction is independent of the
path taken between the initial and final states.
24. The standard enthalpy change of reaction (Hrxn), is the enthalpy change when molar
quantities of reactants (as specified by the chemical equation) react to form products under
standard conditions 25C and 1 atm.
25. The standard enthalpy change of formation of a compound (Hf), is the enthalpy change
when 1 mole of a pure compound in a specified state is formed from its constituent
elements in their standard states, under standard conditions 25C and 1 atm.
26. The standard enthalpy change of combustion of a compound (Hc), is the enthalpy
change when 1 mole of that compound is completely burnt in oxygen under standard
conditions 25C and 1 atm.
27. The standard enthalpy change of neutralisation (Hneu), is the enthalpy change when an
acid and a base react to form 1 mole of water under standard conditions 25C, and 1 atm.
28. The standard enthalpy change of atomisation of an element (Hatom ), is the enthalpy
change when 1 mole of atoms in the gaseous state is formed from the element in its normal
physical state under standard conditions 25C and 1 atm.
29. The bond dissociation energy of a bond is the energy required to break one mole of
chemical bonds between two atoms in a molecule in the gaseous phase.
30. The first ionisation energy of an element (H1st I.E.), is the energy required to remove 1
mole of electrons from 1 mole of gaseous atoms, to form 1 mole of gaseous singly charged
cations. M(g) M+(g) + e

31. The second ionisation energy of an element (H2nd I.E.), is the energy required to remove
1 mole of electrons from 1 mole of gaseous singly charged cations, to form 1e mol of
gaseous doubly charged cations. M+(g) M2+(g) + e

32. The first electron affinity of an element (H1st E.A), is the enthalpy change when 1 mol of
electrons are added to 1 mol of gaseous atoms, to form 1 mol of gaseous singly charged
anions.
33. Lattice energy is the energy evolved when 1 mole of an ionic solid is formed from its
constituent gaseous ions under standard conditions 25C and 1 atm.
34. The standard enthalpy change of hydration of a gaseous ion (Hhyd), is the enthalpy
change when 1 mole of hydrated aqueous ions is formed from the gaseous ions under
standard conditions 25C and 1 atm. .
35. The standard enthalpy change of solution of an ionic compound (Hsoln), is the enthalpy
change when 1 mole of an ionic compound is dissolved in a large excess of water under
standard conditions 25C and 1 atm.

Chemistry Definitions 4
Chemical Energetics (Thermodynamics)
36. Entropy (S) measures the degree of disorder in a system. The entropy of a system
increases when the matter or energy in the system becomes more random in its
arrangement. A system that has a high degree of disorder/randomness is said to have a
large entropy. Gases have the highest entropy followed by liquids and solids.

37. The Gibbs Free Energy change, G, is the limiting maximum useful work that can be
obtained from a reaction, at constant pressure. When G < 0, the reaction is spontaneous.

At standard state conditions,

G = H T S
38. The standard electrode potential of an element is the potential difference between the
element and its aqueous ion of 1.00 mol dm3 relative to that of the standard hydrogen
electrode at 1 atm and 298 K.

39. The standard cell potential, Ecell, is the potential difference between two standard half
cells measured under standard conditions. When Ecell > 0, the reaction is spontaneous.
Ecell = Ecathode Eanode
Chemical Equilibria

40. Dynamic Equilibrium refers to a reversible reaction in which the forward and the backward
reactions are taking place at the same rate and concentrations of reactants and product are
constant.

41. Le Chateliers Principle states that if a system in equilibrium is subjected to a change

which disturbs the equilibrium, the system will respond in such a manner as to reduce or
counteract the effect of the change.

Industrial application: Haber Process: 450 oC 500 oC, 200 atm 300 atm
Ionic Equilibria

42. Monoprotic or monobasic acids can donate only one proton. E.g. HCl, HNO3 and CH3COOH
Diprotic or dibasic acids can donate two protons. E.g. H2SO4, H2S and H2CO3

A Bronsted acid is a proton donor.

A strong acid is one that dissociates completely in aqueous solution to give H3O+ ions.
HA (aq) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + A- (aq)

Weak acids only dissociate partially in aqueous solution forming ionic equilibrium systems
HA (aq) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + A- (aq)

Ka provides an accurate measure of the extent to which a weak acid is dissociated.

Ka =

Ka is only affected by changes in temperature

Chemistry Definitions 5
Ionic Equilibria

43. A Bronsted base is a proton acceptor.

A strong base is one that dissociates completely in aqueous solution to give OH- ions.
B (aq) + H2O (l) BH+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

Weak bases only dissociate partially in aqueous solution forming ionic equilibrium systems.
B (aq) + H2O (l) BH+ (aq) + OH- (aq)
Kb =

Kb is only affected by changes in temperature

44. pH is defined as the negative logarithm to base 10 of [H3O+] pH = - log10[H3O+]

pOH is thus the negative logarithm to base 10 of [OH-] pH = - log10[OH-]

pH = pOH = 14

45. Water ionizes itself to a very small extent to give H3O+ and OH- ions.

H2O (l) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + OH- (aq) H = +ve

The equilibrium constant for the above system is given the symbol K w and is known as the
ionic product of water.

Kw = [H3O+][OH-] = 1.0 x 10-14 mol2dm-6 (at 25oC)

As the auto-ionisation of water is an endothermic process, when temperature is

increased, equilibrium shifts to the right to absorb the heat. [H 3O+] and [OH-] increase by the
same amount, Kw increases.

Kw is only affected by change in temperature

46. An acidic/alkaline buffer solution is an aqueous solution consisting of a mixture of a weak

acid and its conjugate base or a mixture of a weak base and its conjugate acid. It has the
property that it resists changes in pH when a small amount of acid or base is added to it.

Chemistry Definitions 6
Reaction Kinetics

47.
Reaction rate is defined as the increase in concentration of one of the products per
unit time or the decrease in concentration of one of the reactants per unit time.
e.g. A + B 2C

48.
Types of rate:
Initial rate is change in concentration of reactants or product at time t = 0.
Instantaneous rate is rate of reaction at any given time/instant.
Average rate is total concentration of reactant used or total concentration of
product formed over total time.
49.
The minimum energy which colliding molecules must possess for successful
collision/reaction is called the activation energy, Ea.
50.
Rate law or rate equation is the mathematical relationship between the rate of a reaction and
the concentration of the reactants in a reaction. E.g. A + B Products
The rate law is
Rate = k[A]m[B]n
where k is the rate constant
m is the order of reaction with respect to reactant A
n is the order of reaction with respect to reactant B
(m + n) is the overall order of the reaction
51. The order of reaction with respect to a particular reactant is the power to which the
concentration of that reactant is raised in an experimentally determined rate equation / rate
law.

52. The rate constant, k, is the proportionality constant in the experimentally determined rate
law.

53. The half-life ( t 1 2 ) of a reaction is the time taken for the concentration of a reactant to fall to
half its initial value. It is constant only for a first order reaction as it is independent of reactant
concentrations.

54. A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a reaction by providing an alternative
reaction pathway that has lower activation energy.

55. Biological catalysts such as enzymes are very selective in the reactions that they catalyze,
and some are absolutely specific, operating for only one substance in only one reaction. For
reactions that normally produce a pair of optical isomers (racemic mixture) when carried out
in the lab, enzymes are able to selectively produce one optical isomer in the body.

Chemistry Definitions 7
Transition Elements
56. A transition element is a d-block element which is able to form one or more stable ions with
a partially filled d-subshell.

57. A ligand is an anion or neutral molecule with at least one lone pair of electrons available for
dative bonding to the central metal atom or ion.

58. A complex ion contains a central metal atom or ion bonded to ligands by coordinate (or
dative) bonds.

59. Co-ordination number indicates the number of co-ordinate (or dative) bonds around the
central metal ion.
Organic Chemistry

60. Empirical formula is the simplest formula that shows the ratio of each kind of atom in a
molecule. e.g. C2H5 is the empirical formula for C4H10

61. Molecular formula shows the actual number of each kind of atoms in a molecule. e.g. C4H10

62. Structural formula shows how the atoms are connected to each other in a molecule. e.g.
CH3CH2CH2CH3

63. Displayed/full formula shows all the bonds and relative placing of all the atoms in a
H H H H

H C C C C H

molecule. e.g. H H H H

64. Homologous series are compounds have the same general formula and functional group
and each homologue differs from its neighbor by a fixed group of atoms (e.g.CH2). As we go
down a homologous series, the chemical properties remain unchanged but there is a gradual
change in physical properties. Examples of homologous series are alkanes, alkenes,
alcohols..

65. Structural isomerism refers to compounds with the same molecular formula but different
structural formula. E.g. CH3COOCH3 and C2H5COOH

66. Stereoisomerism refers to compounds that have the same molecular formula but with
different spatial arrangements.

Geometric isomers have same carbon skeleton with double bonds restricting free
rotation. For geometric isomerism to exist, there must be two different groups of
atoms bonded to each side of the C=C bond.

Optical isomers are non-superimposable mirror images of each other (enantiomers).

Isomers have at least one chiral C atom, i.e. there are four different groups attached
and have no plane of symmetry. An equal proportion of enantiomers forms a racemic
mixture which is optically inactive.

Chemistry Definitions 8
67. The primary structure of a protein shows the exact order (or unique sequence) of the -
amino acids held by peptide/amide linkages along the polypeptide chain. The primary
structure determines what the protein is, how it folds and its function.

68. The secondary structure refers to the detailed configurations of the polypeptide chain. In a
protein molecule, the long chain of amino acid units may be coiled into an -helix or folded
into a -pleated sheet. Both structures are stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the N-H
group of one amino acid residue and the C=O group of another along the main chain.

69. The tertiary structure of the protein refers to the overall 3-dimensional shape of the entire
protein involving folding or coiling of the chains. It shows how protein molecules are
arranged in relation to each other.

There are four types of R group interactions which hold the tertiary structure in its shape.
van der Waals forces (induced dipole-induced dipole bonding) exist when non-polar
R groups (e.g. alkyl or aryl groups) come close together. They are usually found on
the inside of globular proteins where, because they are hydrophobic, they do not
interfere with solubility.
hydrogen bonding between polar groups (e.g.. CH2OH, -COOH and NH2 groups).
ionic bonding eg. COO-, -NH3+, and >NH2+.
disulfide linkages eg. SH or CH2-S-S-CH2- groups.

70. Quaternary structure of proteins refers to the spatial arrangement of its protein subunits. It
shows how the individually folded protein subunits are packed together to yield large
structures. This only applies to proteins that contain two or more polypeptide chains. The
individual polypeptide chains are called the subunits. E.g. haemoglobin contains 4 subunits,
each containing a haem group.

It is stabilized by the same R-group interactions that stabilise the tertiary structure.

71. Denaturation is the loss of biological activity of a native protein. When proteins are
denatured, the secondary and tertiary structures are disrupted i.e. the R group interactions
are broken or destroyed. Note that the primary structure remains unaffected.
Factors that can lead to denaturation include extremes in pH, temperature, ionic salts, heavy
metal compounds, presence of organic solvents etc.

All the best for A Level

Chemistry Definitions 9