I thought it might be good to have a page with definitions for some commonly used words in science. This post will be largely chemistry based; I have done biology and physics versions too. I apologise in advance if it is too simple for you – just make sure that you really do understand each word properly. I have linked each word to a very short video on Twig Prep (where something suitable exists).
Solution – a special mixture in which one substance is evenly spread out through another.
Solvent – the liquid in which something is dissolved.
Solute – the substance dissolved in a solution.
Dissolve – when one substance becomes evenly distributed through another.
Soluble/Insoluble – able or not able to dissolve in a particular solvent.
Precipitate (verb or noun)
verb – to form as solid particles in a liquid during a reaction
noun – the solid that forms within a liquid
Suspension – fine particles of solid floating evenly through a liquid
Atom – the smallest part of matter that has chemical properties.
Element – a substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler chemical; it contains only one kind of atom.
Molecule – two or more atoms chemically bound together.
Compound – two or more different kinds of atom chemically bonded together in specific proportions.
Mixture – two or more substances of any kind mingled together in any proportion.
The glossary section at Twig Prep is pretty useful. I will probably add to this page from time-to-time so keep checking back.
Questions…
- How would you separate an insoluble solid from a liquid?
- How would you produce pure salt from some salt solution?
- Suggest a physical property of (a) a typical metal (b) a typical non-metal?
- Suggest a chemical property of (a) a typical metal (b) a typical non-metal?
- In what way is carbon NOT a typical non-metal?
1 Filtration
2 Evaporation
3a Shiny
3b Not Ductile
4a They produce hydrogen when reacted with water
4b Bad conductors of heat and electricity
5 Not Malleable
Q1 – excellent
Q2 – indeed
Q3 – (a) yes (b) better to say “brittle” than “not something a metal is”
Q4 – (a) yes, although most metals do not react with water so better to say “their oxides are bases” (b) those are physical properties – a chemical property would be that their oxides usually dissolve to form acids (e.g. SO2, CO2 & NO2)
Q5 – (there are too many negatives in the question!) not being malleable is typical of non-metals. What is odd about carbon is that it conducts electricity quite well which other non-metal elements do not.
Very well done!
Thank you for the helpful post sir.
It is possible that you are the only one reading this so if there is something in particular that interests you let me know.