Chemistry Form 5 Definition List

1. Rate of reaction is the speed at which reactants are

converted into products in a chemical reaction.
Rate of reaction=

change in mass of reactants or products

time

2. Fast Reaction is the conversion of reactant to products

takes place in a short time .
3. Slow Reaction - The conversion of reactant to products
takes more time to complete
4. Observable Change - A change that can be observed by
our senses
5. Catalyst is a substance which alters the rate of a
chemical reaction but remains chemically unchanged at
the end of reation.
6. Effective collision is the collision where the total
amount of energy of the colliding (particles) is equal or
greater than the activation energy and the colliding
particles are in the correct orientation that will result in a
reaction.
7. Chemical energy is the energy stored in all chemical
subtances.
8. Thermochemistry is the study of changes in heat
energy in chemical reactions.
9. Energy level diagram is the diagram that shows the
amount of heat energy given out or absorbed which is
called the rate of reaction.
Symbol= H

Unit=kJ

10. Endothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that

absorbs heat from the surroundings.
11. Exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that gives
out heat to the surroundings.
12. Heat of reaction is the change in amount of heat in a
chemical reaction.
Symbol= H

13. Heat change (Q) = mc

m:mass of solution; c:specific heat capacity(

-1

4.2J g

-1

);

:change in temperature
14. Heat of precipitation is the heat (change) when one
mole of a precipitate is formed from their ions in aqueous
solution.
15. Heat of displacement is the heat (change) when one
mole of a metal is displaced from its salt solution by a
more electropositive metal.
16. Heat of neutralisation is the heat (change) when one
mole of water is formed from the reaction between an
acid and an alkali.
17. Heat of combustion is the heat (change) when one
mole of a reactant is completely burnt in oxygen under
standard condition.
18. Fuel value is the amount of heat energy produced when
one gram of the fuel is completely burnt in excess of
-1
oxygen. ( Unit = kJ g )
19. Soap is a sodium or potassium salt of long-chain fatty
acid.
20. Saponification process is the hydrolysis of an ester by
alkali.
21. Hydrolysis is a reaction of a compound with water.
22. Detergent is a sodium or potassium salt of alkyl
sulphonic acid or alkylbenzene sulphonic acid.
23. Soft water is water that does not contain magnesium
2+
2+
ions, Mg and calcium ions, Ca .
24. Hard water is water that contains magnesium ions,
Mg 2+ and calcium ions, Ca2+ .
25. Surface tension is the attractive force between water
molecules. This prevents water from wetting the surface.
26. Food addictive is a natural or synthetic substance
added to food to prevent spoilage or to improve its
appearance, taste or texture.

27. Preservatives is a substance added to food to slow

down or prevent the growth of microorganisms.
28. Antioxidant is a substance used to slow down the
deterioration of food caused by oxygen from the air.
29. Flavouring is a substance used to improve the taste of
food and restore taste loss because of processing.
30. Thickener is a substance used to thicken foods.
31. Food dye is a substance used to add or restore the
colour in food.
32. Stabiliser is a substance which helps to prevent an
emulsion from separating out.
33. Medicine is a substance used to prevent or cure disease
or to relieve pain.
34. Drug is any natural or artificial made chemical that is
used as a medicine.
35. Analgesic is a medicine used to relieve pain without
causing numbness or affecting consciousness.
36. Antibiotic is a medicine used to kill or slow down the
growth of bacteria.
37. Antidepressant is a medicine used to calm down a
person and thus reduce tension and anxiety.
38. Antipsychotic is a medicine used to treat psychiatric
illness.
39. Stimulant is a medicine which activates the level of
activity arousal or alertness of the central nervous system
to reduce fatigue and elevate mood in most people.
40. Side effects of a drug is the undesirable effects that
the drug produces in addition to that intended.
41. Organic compounds are compounds that contain the
element carbon that is bonded to other elements by
covalent bonds.
42. Inorganic compounds are compounds that do not
contain the element carbon.
43. Carbon compound is a compound contains carbon,C
combined with other elements.
44. Hydrocarbon(C and H) contains only carbon and
hydrogen.

45. Non-hydrocarbons(C,H and O,N,P,S,F,Cl,Br,I) are

compounds in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms
have been replaced by other atoms.
46. Saturated compound is a compound containing atoms
bonded together by single covalent bond.
47. Unsaturated compound is a compound containing
atoms bonded together by at least one double bond or
triple bond.
48. Saturated hydrocarbons contain only single bonds.
49. Unsaturated hydrocarbons contain at least one
multiple bonds.
50. Alkanes are a series of saturated hydrocarbon
molecules with the general formula, Cn H2n+2 .
51. Substitution reaction is a reaction in which an atom or
group of atoms replaces a hydrogen atom in the alkane
molecule.(Example: Halogenation)
52. Homologous series is a group of organic compounds in
which each members differs from the next one in the
series by a fixed unit of structure.
53. Alkyl group is a side-chain containing only carbon, C
and hydrogen, H atoms joined by single bonds.
54. Functional group is a special group of atoms attached
to an organic molecule.
55. Alkenes are a series of unsaturated hydrocarbon
molecules with the general formula, Cn H2n .
56. Addition reaction is a reaction that occurs in alkenes
when a molecule is added across the carbon-carbon
double bond.(Examples: Halogenation, hydrogenation and
hydration)
57. Hydrogenation a process to turn an unsaturated
compound into a saturated compound by treating it with
hydrogen gas and nickel catalyst.
58. Isomers are molecules with the same molecular
formula, but with different structural formula.

59. Alcohols are a series of organic molecules with the

hydroxyl functional group, -OH and general formula,
Cn H2n+1 OH
.
60. Carboxylic acid has the carboxyl group, -COOH
attached to a hydrocarbon chain to give the general
formula, Cn H2n+1 COOH .
61. Ester is a sweet smelling compound produced from a
reaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.
(General formula: Cn H2n+1 COO Cm H2m+1
Functional group:
Carboxylate group)
62. Fats are esters triglycerides formed from glycerol and
fatty acids.
63. Fatty acids are long-chain carboxylic acids containing
about 16 to 18 carbon atoms.
64. Natural rubber is a polymer of isoprene.
65. Vulcanized rubber is a natural rubber that has been
treated with sulphur to improve its properties.
66. Elasticity - The ability to return to the original shape
after being stretched, compressed, or bent.
67. Latex - A milk- like colloid obtained from the rubber tree
.
68. Coagulation of Latex - The separation of rubber
particles from the water in the latex.
69. Redox Reaction - A chemical reaction in which
oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously.
70. Oxidizing agent(oxidant) A substance that oxidizes
other substance while itself undergoes reduction.
71. Reducing Agent (reductant)- A substance that
reduces other substance while itself undergoes oxidation.
72. Oxidation Number/ Oxidation State the charge that
the atom of an element would have if complete transfer of
electrons occurs.
73. Oxidation - A chemical reaction in which a substance
gains oxygen, O; loses hydrogen, H; loses electrons; or
undergoes an increase in oxidation number

74. Reduction - A chemical reaction in which a substance

loses oxygen, O; gains hydrogen, H; gains electrons; or
undergoes a decrease in oxidation number
75. Corrosion of a Metal - The oxidation of the metal
through the action of water, air, and/or electrolytes
76. Rusting of Iron, Fe - The corrosion of iron, Fe. It is a
redox reaction in which iron, Fe is oxidized to form
hydrated iron (III) oxide, Fe2O3.3H2O or rust
77. Sacrificial protection A process of protection against
the corrosion of metal. For example, a more
electropositive metal such as zinc acts as the sacrificial
anode and is corroded first, thus protecting iron
structures.
78. Reactivity Series of Metals - An arrangement of
metals in the order of their reactivity towards oxygen, O2
79. Vigour of a Chemical Reaction - Shows how reactive
the reaction is
80. The Extraction of Metal - The process of obtaining a
metal from its ore
81. Electrolytic Cell - An electrochemical cell that uses
electricity to produce a chemical change
82. Chemical/ Voltaic Cell - An electrochemical cell that
produces electricity from a chemical change.
83. Ore Naturally occurring rock containing a high
percentage of a metal or metals, from which the metal(s)
can be profitably extracted.
84. Galvanizing the coating of a metal, usually iron or
steel, with zinc to prevent corrosion.