Chemistry SPM Definition/WKP/SMKBA

Chemistry SPM Definition

CHAPTER 2: THE STRUCTURE OF THE ATOM

No. Term Definition
Diffusion Random movement of particles from a high concentration region
to low concentration region.
Melting point Temperature at which the substance changes from solid state
into a liquid state at a given pressure.
Freezing point Temperature at which the substance changes from a liquid state
into a solid state at a given pressure.
Boiling point Temperature at which the substance changes from a liquid state
into a gaseous state at a given pressure.
Proton number (p) The number of protons in nucleus of an atom.
Nucleon number(p+n) Total number of protons and neutrons in nucleus of an atom.
Isotope Atoms of the same element with the same proton
number/number of protons but different nucleon number/ number
of neutrons.
Valence electron(s) Electron(s) at the outermost shell of an atom.

CHAPTER 3: CHEMICAL FORMULAE AND EQUATIONS

No. Term Definition
Relative atomic Relative Atomic Mass of an element, Ar =
mass

Mole One mole is the number of particles equal to that in exactly

12.00g of carbon-12 isotope.
Molar Mass Mass of 1 mole of a substance. (unit g mol-1)
Molar volume Volume occupied by 1 mole of any gas. (unit dm3 mol-1)
[i.e. 22.4 dm3 mol-1 at STP or 24 dm3 mol-1 at room conditions]
Empirical formula The chemical formula that shows the simplest whole number
ratio of atoms of each element in the compound.
Molecular formula The chemical formula that shows the actual number of atoms of
each element in the compound.

HAPTER 4: PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS

No. Term Definition
1. Electronegativity The ability of an atom to accept electrons and form negatively
charged ions.
2. Electropositivity The ability of an atom to release electrons and form positively
charged ions.
3. Catalyst A substance which alters the rate of a chemical reaction while it
remains chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction.

CHAPTER 5: CHEMICAL BONDS

No. Term Definition
 Chemistry SPM Definition/WKP/SMKBA
1 Ionic bond A chemical bond formed through transfer of valence electrons
from metal atom to non-metal atom.
2 Covalent bond A chemical bond formed when two non-metal atoms share pairs
of valence electrons.
3 Anion Negatively charged ion.
4 Cation Positively charged ion.

CHAPTER 6: ELECTROCHEMISTRY
No. Term Definition
1. Electrolyte A chemical substance which conducts electricity in molten state
or aqueous solution.
2. Non-electrolyte A substance that cannot conduct electricity in all states.
3. Electrolysis A process whereby a compound is decomposed into its
constituent elements when an electric current passes through
an electrolyte.
4. Electrochemical An arrangement of elements based on their electropositivity.
series
5. Voltaic cell/ A chemical cell consisting of two different metals immersed in an
galvanic cell/ electrolyte and produces electric current.
chemical cell

CHAPTER 7: ACIDS AND BASES

No. Term Definition
Acid A chemical compound that ionises in water to form hydrogen /
hydroxonium ions.
Base A chemical compound that reacts with an acid to produce salt
and water only.
Alkali A chemical compound that ionises in water to form hydroxide
ions.
Strong acid An acid which ionises completely in water to produce high
concentration of hydrogen ions.
Weak acid An acid which ionises partially in water to produce low
concentration of hydrogen ions.
Strong alkali An alkali which ionises completely in water to produce high
concentration of hydroxide ions.
Weak alkali An alkali which ionises partially in water to produce low
concentration of hydroxide ions.
Neutralisation A reaction between an acid and a base to produce salt and water
only.
CHAPTER 8: SALTS
No. Term Definition
1. Salt An ionic compound formed when the hydrogen ion, H+ from an
acid is replaced by a metal ion or an ammonium ion, NH 4+.
2. Crystallisation A technique used to obtain salt crystals from its saturated solution.
3. Double A reaction to prepare an insoluble salt by mixing two different
 Chemistry SPM Definition/WKP/SMKBA
decomposition aqueous solutions containing the ions of the insoluble salt.

CHAPTER 9: MANUFACTURED SUBSTANCES IN INDUSTRY

No. Term Definition
1. Alloy A mixture of two or more elements with a certain fixed composition
in which the major component is a metal.
2. Polymer A large molecule made up of many monomers which are joined
together by covalent bonds.
3. Composite A structural material which is formed by combining two or more
material different substances such as metal, alloys, glass, ceramics and
polymers.

CHAPTER 10: RATE OF REACTION

No. Term Definition

1. Rate of reaction The change in the quantity of the reactant or product per unit time.
increase of product decrease of reac tan t
Rate  Rate 
time taken time taken
 Chemistry SPM Definition/WKP/SMKBA

2. Instantaneous The actual rate of reaction at that instant.

rate
3. Average rate The average value of the rate of reaction within a specified period of
time.
4. Activation Minimum energy required by the reactant particles in collision for a
Energy chemical reaction to take place.

5. Effective Collisions between particles which possess energy that is equal to

Collisions or more than activation energy and with the correct orientation to
form the products.
6. Catalyst A substance that changes (alters) the rate of reaction while it
remains chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction.

CHAPTER 11: CARBON COMPOUNDS

No. Term Definition
1. Hydrocarbon Compounds that consists of hydrogen and carbon elements only.
2. Homologous A family of organic compounds with the same functional groups and
series similar chemical properties.
3. Isomerism A phenomenon whereby molecules of compound having same
molecular formula but different structural formula.
4. Isomers Molecules of compound having same molecular formula but
different structural formula.
5. Esterification A chemical reaction between an alcohol and carboxylic acid in the
presence of concentrated sulphuric acid to produce an ester and
water.
6. Vulcanisation A process whereby natural rubber is changed to vulcanised rubber
by adding sulphur.

CHAPTER 12: OXIDATION AND REDUCTION

No. Term Definition
1. Redox Reaction A chemical reaction whereby both oxidation and reduction occur
simultaneously.
2. Oxidation A chemical reaction when the substance gains oxygen, or loses
hydrogen, or loses electrons, or increases in oxidation number.
3. Reduction A chemical reaction when the substance loses oxygen, or gains
hydrogen, or gains electrons, or decreases in oxidation number.
4. Oxidising agent A substance that brings about oxidation to another substance and
itself is reduced in the redox reaction.
5. Reducing agent A substance that brings about reduction to another substance and
itself is oxidised in the redox reaction.
 Chemistry SPM Definition/WKP/SMKBA
Definition in terms of Oxidation Reaction Reduction Reaction
Oxygen gain or loss gains oxygen loses oxygen
Hydrogen gain or loss loses hydrogen gains hydrogen
Electron transfer loses electrons to another reactant gains electrons from another reactant
Oxidation number Increase in oxidation number Decrease in oxidation number

CHAPTER 13: THERMOCHEMISTRY

No. Term Definition
1. Exothermic Reaction A chemical reaction whereby heat energy is released to the
surroundings.
2. Endothermic Reaction A chemical reaction whereby heat energy is absorbed from
the surroundings.
3. Heat of reaction,  H. The change in the amount of heat in a chemical reaction.
ΔH = Hproducts - H reactants
4. Heat of precipitation The heat change when one mole of a precipitate is formed
from their ions in aqueous solution under standard condition.
7. Heat of displacement The heat change when one mole of a metal is displaced
from its salt solution by a more electropositive metal under
standard condition.
8. Heat of neutralisation The heat change when one mole of water is formed from
the reaction between an acid and an alkali under standard
condition.
9. Heat of combustion The heat change when one mole of a substance is
completely burnt in oxygen under standard condition.
10 Fuel value (Heat value) The amount of heat energy given out when 1 gram of the
kJ g-1 fuel is completely burnt in oxygen.

CHAPTER 14: CHEMICALS FOR CONSUMERS

No. Term Definition
1. Cleansing agent Chemical that is used to remove dirt from a surface.
2. Soap Sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids.
3. Detergent Synthetic cleansing agents made from long-chain hydrocarbons
obtained from petroleum fractions.
4. Food Additive A natural or synthetic substance which is added to food to prevent
spoilage or to improve its appearance, taste or texture.
5. Preservative Substance added to food to slow down or prevent the growth of
microorganisms, so that food can be kept for longer periods of time.
 Chemistry SPM Definition/WKP/SMKBA
6. Antioxidant Substance added to food to prevent oxidation that causes rancid
fats and brown fruits.
7. Flavouring Substance added to food to improve the taste of food and restore
taste loss because of processing.
8. Stabiliser Chemicals that are used to enable oil and water in the food to mix
together properly in order to form an emulsion.
9. Thickener Chemicals that are added to foods to thicken the liquid and to
prevent the foods from becoming liquid.
10. Dye/Colouring Chemicals added to foods to give them colour so as to improve
their appearance.
11. Medicine Chemical that is used to prevent or cure diseases or to relieve pain.
12. Analgesic Medicine used to relieve pain without causing numbness or
unconsciousness.
13. Antibiotic Medicine used to treat infections (diseases) caused by bacteria.
14. Psychotherapeutic Medicine used to alter abnormal thinking, feelings or behaviours.