About this Flash Card Set
14 Cards
by ethan_walsh
How atoms combine and react: ionic vs. covalent bonds, molecules, chemical reactions, and conservation of mass. Core intro-chemistry concepts.
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Chemical bond
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An attraction that holds atoms together in molecules or compounds, formed by sharing or transferring electrons.
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Ionic bond
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A bond formed when one atom transfers electrons to another, creating oppositely charged ions that attract (e.g., NaCl).
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Covalent bond
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A bond formed when two atoms SHARE electrons (e.g., H₂O). Common between nonmetals.
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Molecule
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Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds (e.g., O₂, H₂O).
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Compound
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A substance made of two or more different elements chemically bonded in a fixed ratio.
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Chemical reaction
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A process where reactants are converted into new substances (products) by breaking and forming bonds.
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Reactants vs. products
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Reactants are the starting substances (left of the arrow); products are what's formed (right of the arrow).
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Law of conservation of mass
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Matter is neither created nor destroyed in a reaction — mass of reactants equals mass of products.
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Balancing equations
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Adjusting coefficients so each element has equal atoms on both sides, satisfying conservation of mass.
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Exothermic vs. endothermic
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Exothermic reactions RELEASE energy (often heat); endothermic reactions ABSORB energy.
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Catalyst
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A substance that speeds up a reaction without being consumed by it.
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Polar vs. nonpolar
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Polar molecules have uneven charge distribution (like water); nonpolar molecules share electrons evenly.
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Chemical formula
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A shorthand showing the elements and number of each atom in a compound (e.g., CO₂ = 1 carbon, 2 oxygen).
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Mole
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A counting unit for particles: 1 mole = 6.02 × 10²³ particles (Avogadro's number).
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