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Terms starting with P

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Acids, Bases & Salts

Phenolphthalein

An acid–base indicator that is colourless in acid and pink in alkaline solution, changing between pH 8.3 and 10.0.

C₂₀H₁₄O₄ Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Phospholipid

A lipid in which one fatty acid of a triglyceride is replaced by a phosphate-containing group.

Dimensionless
Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

Photochemical Quantum Yield

The number of molecules reacting for each photon of light absorbed by the system.

Φ = molecules reacted / photons absorbed Dimensionless
Stoichiometry & Chemical Reactions

Photochemical Reaction

A reaction initiated by the absorption of light, which promotes a molecule to an electronically excited state.

A + hν → A* nm
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrate and oxygen.

6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ kJ/mol
Foundations of Chemistry

Physical Change

A change that alters the form or state of a substance while leaving its chemical composition intact.

Dimensionless
Chemical Equilibrium

Physical Equilibrium

An equilibrium between two physical states or phases of the same substance.

H₂O(l) ⇌ H₂O(g) Dimensionless
Foundations of Chemistry

Physical Property

A characteristic of a substance that can be observed or measured without altering its chemical identity.

Various
Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

Physisorption

Weak adsorption in which molecules are held to a surface by van der Waals forces alone.

ΔH ≈ −20 to −40 kJ/mol kJ/mol
Chemical Bonding & Molecular Structure

Pi Bond

A covalent bond formed by the sideways overlap of parallel p orbitals, with electron density above and below the internuclear axis.

kJ/mol
Acids, Bases & Salts

pKa

The negative logarithm of the acid dissociation constant, giving a convenient scale of acid strength.

pKa = −log Ka Dimensionless
Acids, Bases & Salts

pKb

The negative logarithm of the base dissociation constant.

pKb = −log Kb Dimensionless
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Plasma

A state of matter consisting of a hot, electrically conducting mixture of ions and free electrons.

K
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Plum Pudding Model

J. J. Thomson's 1904 model picturing the atom as a sphere of diffuse positive charge with electrons embedded within it.

Dimensionless
Acids, Bases & Salts

pOH

The negative logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentration.

pOH = −log[OH⁻]; pH + pOH = 14 Dimensionless
Chemical Bonding & Molecular Structure

Polar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond in which the shared electrons are unequally distributed because the bonded atoms differ in electronegativity.

δ⁺A—Bδ⁻ D
Chemical Bonding & Molecular Structure

Polarisability

The ease with which the electron cloud of an atom, ion or molecule can be distorted by an external electric field.

μ_induced = α × E C·m²/V
Chemical Bonding & Molecular Structure

Polarising Power

The ability of a cation to distort the electron cloud of a neighbouring anion.

∝ charge / radius² Dimensionless
Foundations of Chemistry

Polyatomic Ion

A covalently bonded group of atoms that carries an overall electrical charge and behaves as a single unit in reactions.

C (charge)
Inorganic & Coordination Chemistry

Polydentate Ligand

A ligand that binds to a single metal centre through three or more donor atoms.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Polymer

A large molecule built from many repeating structural units joined by covalent bonds.

–(A)ₙ– g/mol
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Polymorphism

The ability of a single substance to exist in more than one crystalline form.

Dimensionless
Acids, Bases & Salts

Polyprotic Acid

An acid capable of donating more than one proton per molecule.

H₂A ⇌ H⁺ + HA⁻ ⇌ 2H⁺ + A²⁻ mol/L
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate polymer built from many monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds.

(C₆H₁₀O₅)ₙ Dimensionless