Glossary

A Avogadro’s constant the number of atoms,

molecules or ions in one mole of a given
acids dissolve in water to produce solutions substance, and is 6.02 × 1023 per mole
with a pH of less than 7
acid rain rain which has been made more acidic
B
by pollutant gases balanced symbol equation chemical equation
activation energy the energy needed for a written in chemical symbols showing the
chemical reaction to happen number of atoms on each side of the equation
addition polymer a very long molecule balance
resulting from polymerisation, e.g. polythene base reacts with an acid to form a salt
aggregate gravel added to cement and sand to bioleaching process that uses bacteria to leach
make concrete metal compounds from rocks
alkali metals the metals in Group 1 of the biological catalyst molecules in cells of living
periodic table organisms that speed up chemical reactions
alkalis compounds which produce hydroxide boiling point temperature at which the bulk of
ions in water a liquid turns to vapour
alkanes a family of hydrocarbons with all single buckminsterfullerene a very stable spherical
carbon-carbon covalent bonds and general structure of 60 carbon atoms joined by
formula CnH2n+2 covalent bonds (an allotrope of carbon)
alkenes a family of hydrocarbons with one
double carbon-carbon bond and general C
formula CnH2n carbon an element present in all living things
allotropes different forms of the same element and forms a huge range of compounds with
alloy a mixture of a metal with one or more other elements
other metals or non-metals to change the carbon-14 radioactive isotope of carbon
properties of the metal carbon dioxide (CO2) a greenhouse gas which
alpha particles radioactive particles which is emitted into the atmosphere as a product of
are helium nuclei – helium atoms without the combustion
electrons (they have a positive charge) carbon footprint the total amount of carbon
ammeter meter used in an electric circuit for dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted
measuring current over the full life cycle of a product, service or
anion ion with a negative charge; they move to event.
the anode during electrolysis catalyst a chemical that speeds up a reaction
anode electrode in electrolysis with a positive but is not used up by the reaction
charge cathode the negative electrode in electrolysis
aquifer underground layer of permeable charge(s) a property of matter, charge exists in
rock or loose materials (gravel or silt) where two forms, positive and negative, which attract
groundwater is stored each other
atom the basic ‘building block’ of an element, chemical properties the characteristic
the smallest part of an element that can take chemical reactions of substances
part in a chemical reaction chlorination addition of chlorine to water
atomic number the number of protons in the supplies to kill micro-organisms
nucleus of an atom chromatography a method for separating
substances, used to identify compounds and
check for purity

Glossary 301

75054_P300_306.indd 301 10/3/16 12:43 PM

 Chemistry

close-packed atoms structure of many metals electrical conductors materials that let
collision frequency the number of collisions electricity pass through them
between particles that happen in one unit of electrode ions are discharged at the electrodes
time during electrolysis
combustion exothermic reaction of a substance electrolysis the process of passing direct
with oxygen current through a melted ionic compound or
compound two or more elements which are a solution of an ionic compound so ions are
chemically joined together, e.g. H2O discharged and the compound is broken down
concentration the amount of chemical electrolyte a liquid or solution that conducts
dissolved in a certain volume of solution electricity and breaks down during electrolysis
conductors materials which transfer thermal electronic structure the arrangement of
energy easily; electrical conductors allow electrons in the sequence that they occupy the
electricity to flow through them shells or energy levels, e.g. the 11 electrons of
sodium are arranged 2,8,1
conservation of energy principle stating that
energy cannot be created or destroyed electrons small negatively charged particles
within an atom that are outside the nucleus
conservation of mass the total mass of
reactants equals the total mass of products electrostatic attraction attraction between
formed in a chemical reaction opposite charges, e.g. between Na + and Cl –
covalent bonds bonds between atoms where a elements substances made out of only one
pair of electrons is shared type of atom with the same number of protons
in the nucleus
cracking the process of breaking down large
hydrocarbons into smaller molecules empirical formula simplest ratio of atoms or
ions in a compound
curved line line of changing gradient
endothermic reaction chemical reaction
D which takes in thermal energy
energy the ability to ‘do work ‘
decay to rot or decompose
enzymes biological catalysts that increase the
delocalised electrons electrons which are free speed of chemical reactions
to move from atom to atom in a giant structure
or a molecule equilibrium when the forwards and backwards
reactions are occurring at the same rate in a
density the density of a substance is its mass closed system
divided by its volume
estimate calculate approximately the value of
diesel oil fuel for diesel engines, traditionally something
obtained from crude oil but other forms such
as biodiesel have been developed evaporation when a liquid changes to a gas, it
evaporates
direct current an electric current that flows in
one direction only exhaust gases gases discharged into the
atmosphere from an engine as a result of
displacement reaction chemical reaction combustion of fuels
where an element takes the place of or ‘pushes
out’ another element from a compound exothermic reaction chemical reaction in
which thermal energy is given out
distillation the process of evaporation followed
by condensation explosion a sudden, loud, violent release of
energy by a chemical reaction
dot and cross diagram a diagram representing
the number of electrons in the outer shell of extrapolation making an estimate by
atoms or ions continuing a trend or graph line beyond the
range of results
E
F
electrical conductivity a measurement of the
ability to conduct electricity filtration the process of using a porous material
to remove solids from water or solutions

302 AQA GCSE Chemistry for Combined Science: Trilogy: Student Book

75054_P300_306.indd 302 10/3/16 12:43 PM

 formulation a mixture that has been designed hydrocarbons compounds containing only
as a useful product hydrogen and carbon
fractional distillation crude oil is separated
into fractions using this process of distillation I
where a mixture of liquids is vaporised and incomplete combustion takes place when
compounds with different boiling points there is not enough oxygen present for
condense at different temperatures complete combustion
force a push or pull which is able to change the indicator used to show pH of a solution or
velocity or shape of a body when the end point of a titration is reached
fossil fuels fuels which are the fossilised insoluble salt salt which is not soluble in water
remains of plants or animals, such as coal, oil
and gas intermolecular force force between molecules
fullerenes cage-like carbon molecules interpolation making an estimate of a value
containing many carbon atoms, e.g. buckyballs from values on either side of the point
ionic bond the chemical bond between ions of
G opposite charges
ionic equation an equation showing changes
giant covalent structure a large regular
to the ions involved in a reaction
arrangement of atoms all joined together by
covalent bonds ionises adds or removes electrons from an atom
leaving it charged
giant ionic lattice the regular three-
dimensional arrangement of ions in an ionic ions charged particles (can be positive or
compound , also called a giant ionic structure negative)
gradient rate of change of two quantities on a isotopes atoms with the same number of
graph; change in y divided by change in x protons but different numbers of neutrons
graphite a type of carbon made of layers of J
atoms
greenhouse gas any of the gases whose joule unit of work done and energy
absorption of solar radiation is responsible for
the greenhouse effect, e.g. carbon dioxide, K
methane
kilogram (kg) unit of mass
group within the periodic table the vertical
kinetic energy the energy that moving objects
columns are called groups
have
Group 1 the elements in Group 1 of the periodic
table, the alkali metals L
Group 7 the elements in Group 7 of the periodic
table, the halogens Le Châtelier’s principle if a system is at
equilibrium and a change is made to any of
H the conditions, then the system responds to
counteract the change
half equation a redox reaction is made up of life cycle assessments (LCAs) are carried
two half equations, one in which electrons are out to assess the environmental impact of
lost and one in which electrons are gained. products in each of the stages involved in their
halogens reactive non-metals in Group 7 of the manufacture, use and disposal
periodic table, e.g. chlorine limewater a solution of calcium hydroxide in
hardness resistance of a solid material to water – the colourless solution turns milky in
cutting, indentation or scratching the presence of carbon dioxide
homologous series a series of organic limiting reactant chemical used up in a
compounds that have the same general reaction that limits the amount of product
formula, i.e. the general formula of alkanes is formed
CnH2n+2

Glossary 303

75054_P300_306.indd 303 10/3/16 12:43 PM

 Chemistry

<H1_EM>
line spectrum a spectrum produced by gaseous N
atoms showing individual lines at particular
wavelengths that is unique for each element negative ion an ion with a negative charge,
lustrous shiny such as when atoms gain electrons
lysis to split neutral a neutral solution has a pH of 7
absorb takeapart
in or soak up, for example energy
from sound neutralisation the reaction that takes place
M
<txtGlss_wrd> <TXT_GLSS>
when an acid and base react to produce a salt
and water
magnitude size of something
neutron particle which does not have a charge
mass the amount of matter in something; it is
found in the nucleus of an atom
measured in kilograms (kg)
non-metals elements that are solids, liquids or
mass number the sum of the number of
gases that do not conduct electricity and bond
protons and neutrons in a nucleus
covalently or form negative ions by their atoms
melting point the temperature at which a solid gaining electrons
turns into a liquid
non-renewable something which is used up at
metal halide a compound of a halogen and a a faster rate than it can be replaced e.g. fossil
metal, e.g. potassium bromide fuels
metallic bonding the bonding between atoms nucleus central part of an atom that contains
in a metal due to delocalised electrons protons and neutrons
metallic properties the physical and chemical
properties specific to a metal, such as lustre, O
electrical conductivity and the ability to form
optimum conditions the conditions, such
positive ions
as temperature and pressure, that give the
metalloids elements with properties of both products of a chemical process at the lowest
metals and non-metals; in the periodic table cost
they are between the metals and non-metals
order of magnitude values that differ by one
metals elements that are usually solid, lustrous, order of magnitude are 10 times larger or
conduct electricity and form ions by losing smaller than each other
electrons
oxidation when a reactant gains oxygen or
minerals natural solid materials with a fixed loses electrons
chemical composition and structure, rocks are
made of collections of minerals P
mobile phase in chromatography this is the
phase that moves particulates small particles in the air often
caused by burning fuels
mole a unit for a standard amount of a
substance. One mole of any substance period a row in the periodic table
contains the same number of particles, atoms, periodic table a table of all the chemical
molecules or ions as one mole of any other elements in order of their atomic numbers
substance petrol volatile mixture of mainly hydrocarbons
molecular formula the formula of a chemical used as a fuel
using chemical symbols, e.g. methane has the pharmaceuticals medical drugs
molecular formula CH4 physical property property that can be
molecule two or more atoms covalently bonded measured without changing the chemical
to form the smallest unit of an element or composition of a substance, e.g. hardness
compound, e.g. O2, H2O
phytomining process that uses plants to
molten a substance in its liquid state, often extract metals
referring to a substance which is solid at
pollutants substances that can cause damage
ordinary temperatures, such as rock, ores,
to the environment
metals or salts, when heated to temperatures
above its melting point pollute put unwanted or harmful substances
into the environment

304 AQA GCSE Chemistry for Combined Science: Trilogy: Student Book

75054_P300_306.indd 304 10/3/16 12:43 PM

 pollution contamination of the environment as reversible reaction a chemical reaction where
a result of human activities the reactants form products that, in turn, react
polymer very large molecule formed from many together to give the reactants back
similar smaller molecules (monomers) linked Rf in chromatography is the distance a substance
together moved divided by the distance the solvent
positive ion an ion with a positive charge, such moved
as when atoms lose electrons
S
potable water water that is safe to drink
precipitate solid formed in a solution by a saturated hydrocarbon a hydrocarbon
chemical reaction containing the maximum number of
precipitation reaction chemical reaction in hydrogen atoms and only single carbon-
which a solid is formed when two solutions are carbon bonds; alkanes are saturated
mixed, e.g. in chemical tests for ions hydrocarbons
product substance produced by a chemical sea water water from the sea that contains
reaction (shown on the right-hand side of the high levels of dissolved salts making it
chemical equation) undrinkable
protons positively charged particles found in sedimentation a process during water
the nucleus of an atom purification where small solid particles are
allowed to settle
pure a pure substance is a single element or
compound that is not mixed with any other single covalent bond chemical bond between
substance atoms where each atom shares one pair of
electrons
R solar energy energy from the Sun
soluble a soluble substance can dissolve in a
random having no regular pattern
liquid, e.g. sugar is soluble in water
rate of reaction the speed with which a
solution when a solute dissolves in a solvent, a
chemical reaction takes place, measured by
solution forms
the amount of a reactant used or amount of
product formed in a given time solvent the liquid used to dissolve a solute
reactants chemicals that react together in a stable electronic structure the electronic
chemical reaction (shown on the left-hand side structure of a noble gas, with two electrons
of the chemical equation) in the first shell and eight electrons in every
other outer shell, e.g. He 2; Ne 2,8; Ar 2,8,8; Kr
recharging battery or cell being charged with a
2,8,18,8
flow of electric current
standard form a way of writing a large
reduction when a reactant loses oxygen or
number with one number before the decimal
gains electrons
point, multiplied by a power of 10, e.g. 1 200 =
refine the refining process turns crude oil into 1.2 × 103
usable forms such as petrol
stationary phase the phase in chromatography
relative atomic mass the mass of an atom that does not move; in paper chromatography
compared to 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 it is the paper
atom
straight line line of constant gradient
relative formula mass the sum of the relative
strength (of an acid) strong acids ionise
atomic masses in a compound
completely in water; weak acids partially
renewable energy energy from a resource that ionise
is rapidly replaced
sub-atomic particles particles that make
renewable resource any resource that can be up an atom, e.g. protons, neutrons and
replenished at the same rate that it is used, e.g. electrons
biofuels
sublimation change of state of a substance
reservoir a water resource where large volumes from a solid directly to a gas; e.g. iodine
of water are held

Glossary 305

75054_P300_306.indd 305 10/3/16 12:43 PM

 Chemistry

T V
thermal decomposition the breaking down vacuum space containing no particles of matter
of a compound into two or more products on voltage (also called the potential
heating difference) the difference in electrical
thermal energy energy that can be transferred potential between two points or objects
as heat voltmeter instrument used to measure voltage
toxic a toxic substance is one which is (potential difference)
poisonous and causes harm to living volt (V) unit used to measure voltage
organisms
transition element an element in the middle W
section of the periodic table, between the
block containing Groups 1 and 2 and the block water conservation reducing water
containing Group 3 to Group 0 consumption through planned choice, e.g.
hosepipe bans and water metering
U water resources places from where water is
extracted or where it is stored, e.g. aquifers,
unsaturated hydrocarbon a hydrocarbon reservoirs or lakes
containing fewer than the maximum number wavelength distance between two wave peaks
of hydrogen atoms possible, and so at least one or the distance between identical points in
double bond. adjacent cycles of a wave

306 AQA GCSE Chemistry for Combined Science: Trilogy: Student Book

75054_P300_306.indd 306 10/3/16 12:43 PM