Terms starting with A
77 terms · page 2 of 4
Alcohol
Organic Chemistry
Dimensionless
An organic compound containing a hydroxyl group bonded to a saturated carbon atom.
R–OH
Aldehyde
Organic Chemistry
Dimensionless
A compound containing a carbonyl group bonded to at least one hydrogen atom, so it lies at the end of a chain.
R–CHO
Aldol Condensation
Organic Chemistry
Dimensionless
The base-catalysed reaction of two carbonyl compounds to give a beta-hydroxy carbonyl, which often dehydrates to an enone.
2RCH₂CHO → RCH₂CH(OH)CHRCHO
Alkali Metals
Atomic Structure & Periodicity
Dimensionless
The group 1 elements — lithium through francium — which have a single valence s electron.
ns¹
Alkaline Earth Metals
Atomic Structure & Periodicity
Dimensionless
The group 2 elements — beryllium through radium — which have two valence s electrons.
ns²
Alkane
Organic Chemistry
Dimensionless
A saturated hydrocarbon containing only single carbon–carbon bonds.
CₙH₂ₙ₊₂
Alkene
Organic Chemistry
Dimensionless
An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon–carbon double bond.
CₙH₂ₙ
Alkyne
Organic Chemistry
Dimensionless
An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon–carbon triple bond.
CₙH₂ₙ₋₂
Allotropy
Foundations of Chemistry
Dimensionless
The existence of an element in two or more distinct structural forms within the same physical state.
Alloy
Inorganic & Coordination Chemistry
Dimensionless
A metallic material made by combining a metal with one or more other elements.
Alpha Decay
Nuclear & Radiochemistry
MeV
Radioactive decay in which a nucleus emits a helium-4 nucleus, losing two protons and two neutrons.
ᴬ_Z X → ᴬ⁻⁴_Z₋₂ Y + ⁴₂He
Ambidentate Ligand
Inorganic & Coordination Chemistry
Dimensionless
A monodentate ligand possessing two different potential donor atoms, either of which may bind.
Amide
Organic Chemistry
Dimensionless
A compound in which a carbonyl group is bonded directly to nitrogen.
R–CO–NH₂
Amine
Organic Chemistry
Dimensionless
A compound derived from ammonia by replacing one or more hydrogens with alkyl or aryl groups.
R–NH₂, R₂NH, R₃N
Amino Acid
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry
Dimensionless
An organic compound containing both an amino group and a carboxyl group attached to the same carbon.
H₂N–CHR–COOH
Amorphous Solid
States of Matter & Gas Laws
Dimensionless
A solid whose particles lack long-range order, showing only the short-range regularity characteristic of a frozen liquid.
Amphiprotic Species
Acids, Bases & Salts
Dimensionless
A species that can both donate and accept a proton.
Amphoteric Substance
Acids, Bases & Salts
Dimensionless
A substance able to react as either an acid or a base depending on what it meets.
Analyte
Analytical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
mol/L
The specific substance whose presence or amount is being determined in an analysis.
Analytical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
Dimensionless
The branch of chemistry concerned with identifying substances and determining how much of each is present.
Anhydrous
Foundations of Chemistry
Dimensionless
Describing a substance from which all water, including water of crystallisation, has been removed.
Anion
Foundations of Chemistry
C (charge)
A negatively charged ion produced when an atom or molecule gains one or more electrons.
X + n e⁻ → Xⁿ⁻
Anisotropy
States of Matter & Gas Laws
Dimensionless
The dependence of a physical property on the direction in which it is measured.
Anode
Electrochemistry & Redox
Dimensionless
The electrode at which oxidation occurs.