Chemistry Reference

Glossary
miscibility - the property that describes liquids that can mix with each other in any ratio. Rubbing alcohol and water are miscible, but oil and water are immiscible.
noble gas - a group 18 element. Noble gases are the most stable elements because they have a full valence shell.
nucleon - the particles (i.e. protons and neutrons) in the nucleus of an atom. A particle with 12 protons and 14 neutrons is said to have 26 nucleons.
ore - A natural deposit containing a mineral of an element to be extracted. Chalcopyrite, CuFeS2, is a mineral that is an important ore of the element copper.
Pauli exclusion principle - states that no two electrons in the same atom can have the same four quantum numbers. As a consequence of the Pauli exclusion principle, there can be no more than two electrons in an orbital, and they must have opposite spins.
power - is a ratio of work to time. Bill accomplishes the same amount of work in half the time as Rob, therefore Bill's power output is twice that of Rob.
precipitate - a solid that is formed when two aqueous solutions are reacted in a double displacement reaction. When aqueous potassium iodide and lead(II) nitrate are mixed, the bright yellow precipitate lead(II) iodide settles to the bottom of the beaker as a collection of fine particles.
solute - the material that is dissolved in a solution. Salt is the primary solute in seawater.
solvent - the material that dissolves the solute in a solution. Water is the solvent in seawater because it is the medium that dissolves the salt.
synthesis - a type of chemical reaction in which there is only one product. Table salt, or sodium chloride, can be made from a synthesis reaction between sodium metal and chlorine gas.
transition metal - an element belonging to groups three through twelve. The transition elements are not as reactive as other metals, but they have the greatest density of all elements.
valence electrons - are the electrons located on the highest energy level of an atom. Noble gases (except helium) have an octet, or eight valence electrons.
velocity - the speed and direction of an object. While driving to my grandmother's house, I maintained a velocity of 45 miles per hour north.
volume - the amount of three dimensional space an object occupies. As more air is blown into a balloon, its volume increases.
wavelength - the distance between the crests of two successive waves. Due to their short wavelength, visible light is often measured in nanometers.
X-rays - high energy/small wavelength electromagnetic radiation that is between ultraviolet light (less energy) and gamma rays (more energy). Due to their short wavelengths, X-rays have the ability to penetrate matter.
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