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Chemistry LibreTexts

1.8: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    452688
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    Example and Directions
    Words (or words that have the same definition)The definition is case sensitive(Optional) Image to display with the definition [Not displayed in Glossary, only in pop-up on pages](Optional) Caption for Image(Optional) External or Internal Link(Optional) Source for Definition
    (Eg. "Genetic, Hereditary, DNA ...")(Eg. "Relating to genes or heredity")The infamous double helix https://bio.libretexts.org/CC-BY-SA; Delmar Larsen
    Glossary Entries
    Word(s)DefinitionImageCaptionLinkSource
    accuracyhow closely a measurement aligns with a correct value    
    atomsmallest particle of an element that can enter into a chemical combination    
    Celsius (°C)unit of temperature; water freezes at 0 °C and boils at 100 °C on this scale    
    chemical changechange producing a different kind of matter from the original kind of matter    
    chemical propertybehavior that is related to the change of one kind of matter into another kind of matter    
    chemistrystudy of the composition, properties, and interactions of matter    
    compoundpure substance that can be decomposed into two or more elements    
    cubic centimeter (cm3 or cc)volume of a cube with an edge length of exactly 1 cm    
    cubic meter (m3)SI unit of volume    
    densityratio of mass to volume for a substance or object    
    dimensional analysis(also, factor-label method) versatile mathematical approach that can be applied to computations ranging from simple unit conversions to more complex, multi-step calculations involving several different quantities    
    elementsubstance that is composed of a single type of atom; a substance that cannot be decomposed by a chemical change    
    exact numbernumber derived by counting or by definition    
    extensive propertyproperty of a substance that depends on the amount of the substance    
    Fahrenheitunit of temperature; water freezes at 32 °F and boils at 212 °F on this scale    
    gasstate in which matter has neither definite volume nor shape    
    heterogeneous mixturecombination of substances with a composition that varies from point to point    
    homogeneous mixture(also, solution) combination of substances with a composition that is uniform throughout    
    hypothesistentative explanation of observations that acts as a guide for gathering and checking information    
    intensive propertyproperty of a substance that is independent of the amount of the substance    
    kelvin (K)SI unit of temperature; 273.15 K = 0 ºC    
    kilogram (kg)standard SI unit of mass; 1 kg = approximately 2.2 pounds    
    lawstatement that summarizes a vast number of experimental observations, and describes or predicts some aspect of the natural world    
    law of conservation of matterwhen matter converts from one type to another or changes form, there is no detectable change in the total amount of matter present    
    lengthmeasure of one dimension of an object    
    liquidstate of matter that has a definite volume but indefinite shape    
    liter (L)(also, cubic decimeter) unit of volume; 1 L = 1,000 cm3    
    macroscopic domainrealm of everyday things that are large enough to sense directly by human sight and touch    
    massfundamental property indicating amount of matter    
    matteranything that occupies space and has mass    
    meter (m)standard metric and SI unit of length; 1 m = approximately 1.094 yards    
    microscopic domainrealm of things that are much too small to be sensed directly    
    milliliter (mL)1/1,000 of a liter; equal to 1 cm3    
    mixturematter that can be separated into its components by physical means    
    moleculebonded collection of two or more atoms of the same or different elements    
    physical changechange in the state or properties of matter that does not involve a change in its chemical composition    
    physical propertycharacteristic of matter that is not associated with any change in its chemical composition    
    plasmagaseous state of matter containing a large number of electrically charged atoms and/or molecules    
    precisionhow closely a measurement matches the same measurement when repeated    
    pure substancehomogeneous substance that has a constant composition    
    roundingprocedure used to ensure that calculated results properly reflect the uncertainty in the measurements used in the calculation    
    scientific methodpath of discovery that leads from question and observation to law or hypothesis to theory, combined with experimental verification of the hypothesis and any necessary modification of the theory    
    second (s)SI unit of time    
    SI units (International System of Units)standards fixed by international agreement in the International System of Units (Le Système International d’Unités)    
    significant figures(also, significant digits) all of the measured digits in a determination, including the uncertain last digit    
    solidstate of matter that is rigid, has a definite shape, and has a fairly constant volume    
    symbolic domainspecialized language used to represent components of the macroscopic and microscopic domains, such as chemical symbols, chemical formulas, chemical equations, graphs, drawings, and calculations    
    temperatureintensive property representing the hotness or coldness of matter    
    theorywell-substantiated, comprehensive, testable explanation of a particular aspect of nature    
    uncertaintyestimate of amount by which measurement differs from true value    
    unitstandard of comparison for measurements    
    unit conversion factorratio of equivalent quantities expressed with different units; used to convert from one unit to a different unit    
    volumeamount of space occupied by an object    
    weightforce that gravity exerts on an object    

    1.8: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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