Chemistry OCR A - A Level Definitions

AS
atomic number - the number of protons

mass number - the number of protons and neutrons
isotope - atoms of the same element with the same number of protons and electrons but different
numbers of neutrons and different masses
isotopic mass - the weighted mean mass of an isotope relative to 1/12th of the mass of an atom of
carbon-12
relative atomic mass – the weighted mean mass of one atom relative to 1/12th of the mass of an
atom of carbon-12
amount of substance - the number of particles in a substance
standard solution - solution of known concentration
mole - the amount of a substance which has the same number of particles as there are atoms in 12.0
g of carbon-12
salt – when the h+ in an acid is replaced by a metal ion, ammonium ion, or a + ion
avogadro constant - the number of particles per mole (6.02 ×1023 mol–1)
molar mass - the mass per mole of a substance (units g mol–1)
empirical formula - the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a
compound
molecular formula - the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule
first ionisation energy - energy needed to remove an electron from each atom in one mole of
gaseous atoms to form gaseous 1+ ions
orbital - a region that can hold up to two electrons, with opposite spins
ionic bonding - electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
covalent bond - a shared pair of electrons
dative covalent bond - a shared pair of electrons where both electrons are donated by one atom
electronegativity - the ability of an atom to attract a shared pair electrons in a covalent bond
metallic bonding - the attraction between positive ions and delocalised electrons
periodicity - a repeating pattern across different periods
disproportionation - a reaction in which an element is simultaneously oxidised and reduced
empirical formula - the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a
compound
molecular formula - the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule
general formula - the simplest algebraic formula for a member of a homologous series
structural formula - the minimal detail that shows the arrangement of atoms in a molecule
displayed formula - the relative positioning of atoms and the bonds between them
skeletal formula - the simplified organic formula, shown by removing hydrogen atoms from alkyl
chains, leaving just a carbon skeleton and associated functional groups
homologous series - a series of organic compounds with the same functional group but with each
successive member differing by ch2
functional group - a group of atoms responsible for the characteristic reactions of a compound
structural isomers - compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formula
stereoisomers - compounds with the same molecular and structural formula but with a different
spatial arrangement of atoms
e/z isomerism - an example of stereoisomerism, in terms of restricted rotation around a double bond
and the requirement for two different groups to be attached to each carbon atom of the c=c group
cis-trans isomerism - a special case of e/z isomerism in which two of the substituent groups are the
same (cis = z)
‘curly arrow’ - the movement of an electron pair, showing either breaking or formation of a covalent
bond
homolytic fission – the bond breaking between a pair of bonded atoms leaving two atoms, each
retaining one electron
hydrocarbon - a compound of hydrogen and carbon only
fractional distillation – separation by differences in boiling point
radical - a species with an unpaired electron
electrophile - an electron pair acceptor
nucleophile - an electron pair donor
le chatelier’s principle - if a system at equilibrium is subjected to a small change, the equilibrium will
shift to minimise the effect of the change
enthalpy change of reaction - energy change that accompanies a reaction in the molar quantities
shown in the chemical equation + under standard conditions
enthalpy change of combustion - the energy change for the complete combustion of 1 mole of a
substance in excess of oxygen + under standard conditions
enthalpy change of formation – heat or energy change when 1 mole of a substance is formed from
its constituent elements + under standard conditions (normally negative)
enthalpy change of neutralisation – enthalpy change that accompanies the reaction of an acid with
a base to form 1 mole of h2o
average bond enthalpy – average energy change when 1 mole of a specified type of bond is broken
in a gaseous molecule
rate of reaction – measures how fast a reactant is being used up or how fast a product is being
formed = conc/time
homogenous – catalyst in same state as reactants
heterogenous – catalyst in different state as reactants
catalyst – substance which alters the rate of reaction without being used up by lowering the activation
energy by providing an alternative route
A2
rates, equilibrium and ph
rate of reaction - the change in concentration of a reactant or product per unit time
initial rate of reaction - the change in concentration per unit time at the start of the reaction
order of reaction - the power to which its concentration is raised in the rate equation
overall order - the sum of the individual orders
rate constant, k - the constant that links the rate of reaction with the concentrations of the reactants
raised to the powers of their orders in the rate equation.
half-life - the time taken for the concentration of a reactant to half
reaction mechanism - a series of steps that make up the overall reaction
rate-determining step - the slowest step in a multi-step reaction sequence which involves species in
rate equation
intermediate - a species formed in one step of a multi-step reaction that is used up in a subsequent
step, and is not seen in the overall equation
homogenous equilibrium - an equilibrium in which all the species are in the same physical state.
heterogeneous equilibrium - an equilibrium in which species are in different physical states.
brønsted-lowry acid - proton donor

brønsted-lowry base - proton acceptor
monobasic/dibasic/tribasic acid - acid that contains one/two/three protons that can be replaced per
molecule in an acid–base reaction by metal or ammonium ion
neutralisation - a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base react together to produce a salt and
water.
strong acid - an acid that completely dissociates in aqueous solution
weak acid - an acid that partially dissociates in aqueous solution
buffer solution - a mixture that minimises ph changes on addition of small amounts of acid or base
equivalence point - the point on a titration curve at which stoichiometrically equivalent amounts of
acid and base have been mixed together
end point - the point in a titration at which there are equal concentrations of the weak acid and
conjugate base forms of the indicator. the indicator is midway between its acid and base colours
standard enthalpy change of neutralisation - the enthalpy change that occurs when an aqueous
acid is neutralised by an aqueous base to give 1 mole of water under standard conditions
lattice enthalpy – enthalpy change when one mole of ionic compound is formed from its gaseous
ions under standard conditions (exothermic – formation)
standard enthalpy change of formation – enthalpy change when one mole of a compound is
formed from its elements under standard conditions
standard enthalpy of atomisation – enthalpy change when one mole of gaseous atoms are formed
from their elements in their standard state and standard conditions (endothermic – broken)
first ionisation energy - energy needed to remove an electron from each atom in one mole of
gaseous atoms to form gaseous 1+ ions
first electron affinity – enthalpy change when one electron is added to each atom in one mole of
gaseous atoms to form one mole of 1- ions (exothermic)
standard enthalpy change of solution – enthalpy change due to 1 mole of a solute dissolving in a
solvent (can be exothermic or endothermic)
enthalpy change of hydration – enthalpy change due to dissolving gaseous ions in water to form 1
mole of aqueous ions (gaseous to aqueous)
molecular ion peak - the peak caused by the unfragmented molecule and tells you the Mr
base peak – peak with greatest relative intensity

Chemistry OCR A - A Level Definitions

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What are the different types of bonding discussed in the text?

What are some common thermodynamic terms defined in the text and what do they refer to?

AS

atomic number - the number of protons

brønsted-lowry acid - proton donor

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