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3.4: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    135202
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    acid
    molecule that donates hydrogen ions and increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution
    adhesion
    attraction between water molecules and other molecules
    anion
    negative ion that is formed by an atom gaining one or more electrons
    base
    molecule that donates hydroxide ions or otherwise binds excess hydrogen ions and decreases the hydrogen ions' concentration in a solution
    buffer
    substance that resists a change in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen or hydroxide ions
    capillary action
    occurs because water molecules are attracted to charges on the inner surfaces of narrow tubular structures such as glass tubes, drawing the water molecules to the tubes' sides
    cation
    positive ion that is formed by an atom losing one or more electrons
    cohesion
    intermolecular forces between water molecules caused by the polar nature of water; responsible for surface tension
    dissociation
    release of an ion from a molecule such that the original molecule now consists of an ion and the charged remains of the original, such as when water dissociates into H+ and OH-
    electrolyte
    ion necessary for nerve impulse conduction, muscle contractions, and water balance
    electronegativity
    ability of some elements to attract electrons (often of hydrogen atoms), acquiring partial negative charges in molecules and creating partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms
    equilibrium
    steady state of relative reactant and product concentration in reversible chemical reactions in a closed system
    evaporation
    change from liquid to gaseous state at a body of water's surface, plant leaves, or an organism's skin
    heat of vaporization of water
    high amount of energy required for liquid water to turn into water vapor
    hydrogen bond
    weak bond between slightly positively charged hydrogen atoms and slightly negatively charged atoms in other molecules
    hydrophilic
    describes ions or polar molecules that interact well with other polar molecules such as water
    hydrophobic
    describes uncharged nonpolar molecules that do not interact well with polar molecules such as water
    ion
    atom or chemical group that does not contain equal numbers of protons and electrons
    ionic bond
    chemical bond that forms between ions with opposite charges (cations and anions)
    litmus paper
    (also, pH paper) filter paper treated with a natural water-soluble dye that changes its color as the pH of the environment changes in order to use it as a pH indicator
    molecule
    two or more atoms chemically bonded together
    neutron
    uncharged particle that resides in an atom's nucleus; has a mass of one amu
    nonpolar covalent bond
    type of covalent bond that forms between atoms when electrons are shared equally between them
    pH scale
    scale ranging from zero to 14 that is inversely proportional to the hydrogen ions' concentration in a solution
    polar covalent bond
    type of covalent bond that forms as a result of unequal electron sharing, resulting in creating slightly positive and negative charged molecule regions
    solvent
    substance capable of dissolving another substance
    specific heat capacity
    the amount of heat one gram of a substance must absorb or lose to change its temperature by one degree Celsius
    sphere of hydration
    when a polar water molecule surrounds charged or polar molecules thus keeping them dissolved and in solution
    surface tension
    tension at the surface of a body of liquid that prevents the molecules from separating; created by the attractive cohesive forces between the liquid's molecules

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