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Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

Average Rate

The overall change in concentration divided by the total time interval over which it occurred.

rate_avg = Δ[A] / Δt mol/(L·s)
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Avogadro's Law

Equal volumes of all gases at the same temperature and pressure contain equal numbers of molecules.

V ∝ n L/mol
Foundations of Chemistry

Avogadro's Number

The number of elementary entities in one mole of substance, fixed by definition at 6.02214076 × 10²³ mol⁻¹.

N = n × N_A mol⁻¹
Solutions & Colligative Properties

Azeotrope

A liquid mixture that boils at constant temperature and distils without any change in composition.

°C
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Azimuthal Quantum Number

The quantum number l that determines the shape of an orbital and the magnitude of the electron's orbital angular momentum.

l = 0 to (n − 1) Dimensionless
Chemical Bonding & Molecular Structure

Back Bonding

The donation of electron density from a filled orbital on one atom into an empty orbital on its bonded partner, in the direction opposite…

M(dπ) → L(π*) kJ/mol
Analytical Chemistry & Spectroscopy

Back Titration

A technique in which excess reagent is added and the unreacted portion titrated to find how much reacted with the analyte.

n_reacted = n_added − n_remaining mol
Nuclear & Radiochemistry

Background Radiation

The ionising radiation always present in the environment from natural and artificial sources.

mSv/year
Stoichiometry & Chemical Reactions

Balanced Chemical Equation

An equation in which the number of atoms of each element and the total charge are identical on both sides.

Σ atoms(left) = Σ atoms(right) Dimensionless
Nuclear & Radiochemistry

Band of Stability

The region on a plot of neutron number against proton number within which stable nuclides are found.

Dimensionless
Acids, Bases & Salts

Base

A substance that accepts protons, produces hydroxide ions in water, or donates a pair of electrons.

B + H⁺ → BH⁺ Dimensionless
Acids, Bases & Salts

Base Dissociation Constant

The equilibrium constant for the reaction of a base with water to produce hydroxide ions.

Kb = [BH⁺][OH⁻] / [B] mol/L
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Base Pairing

The specific hydrogen bonding between complementary nitrogenous bases in nucleic acids.

A–T (2 H-bonds), G–C (3 H-bonds) Dimensionless
Analytical Chemistry & Spectroscopy

Base Peak

The most intense peak in a mass spectrum, assigned an arbitrary relative abundance of 100%.

Dimensionless
Acids, Bases & Salts

Basic Buffer

A buffer made from a weak base and one of its salts, giving a pH above 7.

pOH = pKb + log([salt]/[base]) Dimensionless
Acids, Bases & Salts

Basic Salt

A salt whose aqueous solution has a pH above 7, or one that retains a hydroxide group.

Dimensionless
Acids, Bases & Salts

Basic Solution

A solution in which the hydroxide ion concentration exceeds the hydrogen ion concentration.

[OH⁻] > [H⁺] mol/L
Nuclear & Radiochemistry

Becquerel

The SI unit of radioactivity, equal to one nuclear disintegration per second.

1 Bq = 1 s⁻¹ Bq
Analytical Chemistry & Spectroscopy

Beer–Lambert Law

The relation stating that absorbance is proportional to concentration and to the path length of the sample.

A = ε c l Dimensionless
Chemical Bonding & Molecular Structure

Bent Geometry

A molecular shape in which two bonded atoms form an angle at a central atom that also carries one or more lone pairs.

AX₂E or AX₂E₂ degrees
Organic Chemistry

Benzene

The simplest aromatic hydrocarbon, a planar regular hexagon of six sp² carbons with a delocalised pi cloud.

C₆H₆ Dimensionless
Nuclear & Radiochemistry

Beta-Minus Decay

Radioactive decay in which a neutron converts into a proton, emitting an electron and an antineutrino.

n → p + e⁻ + ν̄ MeV
Inorganic & Coordination Chemistry

Bidentate Ligand

A ligand that binds to the same metal centre through two donor atoms, forming a ring.

Dimensionless
Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

Bimolecular Reaction

An elementary step in which two species collide and react.

A + B → products, rate = k[A][B] L/(mol·s)