Microsoft Word Basic Chemistry Vocabulary List doc

normal boiling point
: The boiling point of a substance at 1.00 atm.
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normal melting point
: The melting point of a substance at 1.00 atm.
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normality
: The number of equivalents of a substance dissolved in a liter of 
solution.
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nuclar fusion
: When many small atoms combine to form a large one. This 
occurs during a thermonuclear reaction.
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nuclear fission
: This is when the nucleus of an atom breaks into many parts.
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nuclear reaction:
Any reaction that involves a change in the nucleus of an 
atom. Nuclear reactions take loads of energy, which is why you don't see 
them much around the lab.
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nucleon
: A particle (such as proton or neutron) that's in the nucleus of an 
atom.
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octet rule
: All atoms want to be like the nearest noble gas. (Well, they all 
want to have the same number of valence electrons, anyway). To do this, 
they either gain or lose electrons (to form ionic compounds) or share electrons 
(to form covalent compounds).
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optical isomerism
: Isomerism in which the isomers cause plane polarized 
light to rotate in different directions.
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orbital
: This is where the electrons in an atom live.
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organic compound
: A compound that contains carbon (except carbon 
dioxide, carbon monoxide, and carbonates)
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osmosis
: The flow of a pure liquid into an area of high concentration through 
a semi-permeable membrane.
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oxidation number
: The apparent charge on an atom.
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oxidation
: When a substance loses electrons.
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partial pressure
: The pressure of one gas in a mixture. For example, if you 
had a 50:50 mix of helium and hydrogen gases and the total pressure was 2 
atm, the partial pressure of hydrogen would be 1 atm.
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