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General Chemistry Fundamentals

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  • What is matter?

    Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.

  • What are the three states of matter?

    The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas.

  • Define an atom.

    An atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains its chemical properties.

  • What are the main subatomic particles in an atom?

    Protons, neutrons, and electrons are the main subatomic particles.

  • What determines the atomic number of an element?

    The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

  • What is the periodic table?

    The periodic table organizes elements by increasing atomic number and groups with similar properties.

  • What is an ionic bond?

    An ionic bond forms when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating ions.

  • What is a covalent bond?

    A covalent bond forms when atoms share electrons.

  • How do you identify a cation and an anion?

    A cation is a positively charged ion; an anion is a negatively charged ion.

  • What is the difference between an element and a compound?

    An element contains only one type of atom; a compound contains two or more different atoms chemically bonded.

  • What is the mole concept?

    A mole is the amount of substance containing \(6.022\times10^{23}\) entities (Avogadro's number).

  • Define atomic mass unit (amu).

    An amu is 1/12 the mass of a carbon-12 atom, used to express atomic and molecular masses.

  • What is the difference between mass number and atomic number?

    Mass number is protons plus neutrons; atomic number is protons only.

  • What is an isotope?

    Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.

  • How are elements arranged in the periodic table?

    Elements are arranged in periods (rows) by increasing atomic number and groups (columns) by similar chemical properties.

  • What defines a metal, nonmetal, and metalloid?

    Metals are good conductors and malleable; nonmetals are poor conductors; metalloids have properties of both.

  • What is molar mass?

    Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol).

  • What is the law of conservation of mass?

    The law of conservation of mass states mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

  • What is the difference between empirical and molecular formulas?

    An empirical formula shows the simplest ratio of atoms; a molecular formula shows the actual number of atoms.

  • What is the octet rule?

    The octet rule states atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to have eight valence electrons.