Microsoft Word Basic Chemistry Vocabulary List doc

beta particle
: A radioactive particle equivalent to an electron.
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bidentate ligand
: A ligand that can attach twice to a metal ion. 
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binary compound
: A compound only having two elements
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binding energy
: The amount of energy that holds the neutrons and protons 
together in the nucleus of an atom. It's a lot of energy, which is why you don't 
see nuclei falling apart all over the place.
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bond energy
: The amount of energy it takes to break one mole of bonds. 
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bond length
: The average distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms.

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Boyle's Law
: The volume of a gas at constant temperature varies inversely 
with pressure. In other words, if you put big pressure on something, it gets 
small.
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Bronsted-Lowry acid
: Acids donate protons [H+ ions] and bases grab them
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buffer
: A liquid that resists change in pH by the addition of acid or base. It 
consists of a weak acid and it's conjugate base (acetic acid and sodium 
acetate, for example).
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calorimetry
: The study of heat flow. Usually you'd do calorimetry to find the 
heat of combustion of a compound or the heat of reaction of two compounds.
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carboxylic acid
: An organic molecule with a -COOH group on it. Acetic acid 
is the most famous one.
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catalyst
: A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used 
up by the reaction. Enzymes are catalysts because they allow the reactions 
that take place in the body to occur fast enough that we can live.
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cathode
: The electrode in which reduction occurs. Reduction is when a 
compound gains electrons.
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chain reaction
: A reaction in which the products from one step provide the 
reagents for the next one. This is frequently referred to in nuclear fission 
(when large nuclei break apart to form smaller ones) and in free-radical 
reactions.
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Charles's Law
: The volume of a gas at constant pressure is directly 
proportional to the temperature. In other words, if you heat something up, it 
gets big.
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