Chemistry key terms

The substance that dissolves in a solvent when a solution forms.

A mixture formed when a solute dissolves in a solvent.

The liquid in which a solute dissolves.

The furthest point reached by the solvent on the stationary phase.

A solid particle of carbon produced during incomplete combustion of a carbon-containing fuel.

A model that shows the positions, arrangement, shape or relative orientation of parts of a system.

An atom, ion or molecule taking part in a chemical reaction.

A list of the properties or performance requirements that a material or product must meet for a particular use.

A catalyst that increases the rate of one reaction may have little or no effect on another reaction.

The entity being counted, such as an atom, molecule, ion or formula unit.

The objects being counted, such as atoms, molecules, ions, electrons or formula units.

An ion that remains unchanged during a reaction and does not appear in the ionic equation.

A line or peak at a particular wavelength in an emission spectrum.

An instrument that separates emitted light into its different wavelengths.

The study of how matter emits, absorbs or interacts with electromagnetic radiation, used to obtain information about a substance.

A measurement unit raised to the power 2, used for area; for example, cm².

An arrangement of electrons in which the highest occupied energy level is full: 2 electrons for helium or 8 for the other noble gases.

A person or group that may affect, benefit from or be harmed by a decision.

A way of writing very large or very small numbers in the form $a\times10^n$, where $1\leq a<10$.

A solution whose concentration is accurately known.

A substance used at the beginning of a manufacturing process to make a product.

One of the physical forms in which a substance exists: solid, liquid or gas.

A notation written after a chemical formula to show the physical state of that substance in a chemical equation.

The material that remains in place while chromatography is carried out; in paper chromatography, this is the paper.

An alloy of iron containing controlled amounts of carbon and, in some types, other elements.

Treatment that kills microorganisms in water, for example using chlorine, ozone or ultraviolet light.

Resistance to elastic bending or changing shape under a force.

The whole number placed before a formula in a balanced equation; it shows the relative number of moles and, for gases under the same conditions, the relative gas volume.

The whole-number numbers placed before formulae in a balanced equation; they show the reacting mole ratio.

The quantitative relationship between substances in a chemical reaction, obtained from a balanced equation.