Microsoft Word Basic Chemistry Vocabulary List doc

Pauli exclusion principle
: No two electrons in an atom can have the same 
quantum numbers.
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percent yield
: The actual yield divided by the theoretical yield, times 100.
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period
: A row (left to right) in the periodic table.
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periodic law
: The properties of elements change with increasing atomic 
number in a periodic way. That's why you can stick the elements into a big 
chart and have the elements line up in nice families.

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pH
: -log[H+]
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phase diagram
: A chart which shows how the phase depends on various 
conditions of temperature and pressure.
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phase
: The state of a compound (solid, liquid, or gas)
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physical property:
A property which can be determined without changing 
something chemically. If that doesn't make sense, see the definition of 
"chemical change".
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pi-bond:
A double bond.
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polar covalent bond
: A covalent bond where one atom tries to grab the 
electrons from the other one. This occurs because the electronegativities of 
the two atoms aren't the same.
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polyatomic
: contains more than one atom.
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polymer
: A molecule containing many repeating units. Plastics are polymers 
and are formed by free radical chain reactions.
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polyprotic acid
: An acid that can give up more than one hydronium ion.
Examples are sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid.
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potential energy
: The energy something has because of where it is. Things 
that are way up high have more potential energy than things that are way 
down low because they have farther to fall.
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precision
: A measurement of how repeatable a measurement is. The more 
significant figures, the more precise the measurement.
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