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Chemistry LibreTexts

5.2: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    488418
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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
    alloysolid mixture of a metallic element and one or more additional elements    
    amphiphilicmolecules possessing both hydrophobic (nonpolar) and a hydrophilic (polar) parts    
    boiling point elevationelevation of the boiling point of a liquid by addition of a solute    
    boiling point elevation constantthe proportionality constant in the equation relating boiling point elevation to solute molality; also known as the ebullioscopic constant    
    colligative propertyproperty of a solution that depends only on the concentration of a solute species    
    colloid(also, colloidal dispersion) mixture in which relatively large solid or liquid particles are dispersed uniformly throughout a gas, liquid, or solid    
    crenationprocess whereby biological cells become shriveled due to loss of water by osmosis    
    dispersed phasesubstance present as relatively large solid or liquid particles in a colloid    
    dispersion mediumsolid, liquid, or gas in which colloidal particles are dispersed    
    dissociationphysical process accompanying the dissolution of an ionic compound in which the compound’s constituent ions are solvated and dispersed throughout the solution    
    electrolytesubstance that produces ions when dissolved in water    
    emulsifying agentamphiphilic substance used to stabilize the particles of some emulsions    
    emulsioncolloid formed from immiscible liquids    
    freezing point depressionlowering of the freezing point of a liquid by addition of a solute    
    freezing point depression constant(also, cryoscopic constant) proportionality constant in the equation relating freezing point depression to solute molality    
    gelcolloidal dispersion of a liquid in a solid    
    hemolysisrupture of red blood cells due to the accumulation of excess water by osmosis    
    Henry’s lawthe proportional relationship between the concentration of dissolved gas in a solution and the partial pressure of the gas in contact with the solution    
    hypertonicof greater osmotic pressure    
    hypotonicof less osmotic pressure    
    ideal solutionsolution that forms with no accompanying energy change    
    immiscibleof negligible mutual solubility; typically refers to liquid substances    
    ion pairsolvated anion/cation pair held together by moderate electrostatic attraction    
    ion-dipole attractionelectrostatic attraction between an ion and a polar molecule    
    isotonicof equal osmotic pressure    
    misciblemutually soluble in all proportions; typically refers to liquid substances    
    molality (m)a concentration unit defined as the ratio of the numbers of moles of solute to the mass of the solvent in kilograms    
    nonelectrolytesubstance that does not produce ions when dissolved in water    
    osmosisdiffusion of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane    
    osmotic pressure (Π)opposing pressure required to prevent bulk transfer of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane    
    partially miscibleof moderate mutual solubility; typically refers to liquid substances    
    Raoult’s lawthe relationship between a solution’s vapor pressure and the vapor pressures and concentrations of its components    
    saturatedof concentration equal to solubility; containing the maximum concentration of solute possible for a given temperature and pressure    
    semipermeable membranea membrane that selectively permits passage of certain ions or molecules    
    solubilityextent to which a solute may be dissolved in water, or any solvent    
    solvationexothermic process in which intermolecular attractive forces between the solute and solvent in a solution are established    
    spontaneous processphysical or chemical change that occurs without the addition of energy from an external source    
    strong electrolytesubstance that dissociates or ionizes completely when dissolved in water    
    supersaturatedof concentration that exceeds solubility; a nonequilibrium state    
    suspensionheterogeneous mixture in which relatively large component particles are temporarily dispersed but settle out over time    
    Tyndall effectscattering of visible light by a colloidal dispersion    
    unsaturatedof concentration less than solubility    
    van’t Hoff factor (i)the ratio of the number of moles of particles in a solution to the number of moles of formula units dissolved in the solution    
    weak electrolytesubstance that ionizes only partially when dissolved in water    

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

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