Chemistry, in plain words
Plain-language definitions of school Chemistry terms, A to Z, each with an example, where marks go, and the board's own source.
24 terms
Terms starting with A
- Addition reactionAn addition reaction is one in which an unsaturated compound, with a double or triple bond, adds atoms such as hydrogen across that bond, and can end up saturated.
- AlloyAn alloy is a metal blended evenly with another metal or with a non-metal, to give it better properties such as extra hardness.
Terms starting with B
Terms starting with C
- CatenationCatenation is the ability of an element's atoms to bond with each other and form long chains, branches or rings.
- Chlor-alkali processThe chlor-alkali process passes electricity through brine, a solution of common salt in water, to make sodium hydroxide, chlorine and hydrogen.
- Concentration of a solutionThe concentration of a solution is the amount of dissolved substance in a given amount of the solution.
- CorrosionCorrosion is the slow eating away of a metal when it reacts with substances around it, such as air, moisture or acids.
- Covalent bondA covalent bond is a bond formed when two atoms share a pair of electrons, so that each atom gets a full outer shell.