A 33

achiral Describes any molecule or object that is superimposable upon its mirror image. acid A compound that produces hydrogen ions in water solution. acidification The process of increasing the hydrogen ion concentration. adsorption The concentration of a substance on the surface of another substance, which is usually solid. aerobic Living or active only in the presence of oxygen. aerogel A porous solid formed by replacing the liquid in a gel with a gas; what remains when the liquid part of an alcogel is removed without damaging the solid part. alcogel A gel formed by the coagulation of a sol in which the liquid is alcohol; at the gel point, the mixture forms a rigid substance that can stand on its own. The liquid and solid parts of an alcogel occupy the same volume. alcohol A class of organic compounds which has an OH group covalently bonded to a carbon atom. alkaline Describes an alkali (basic) or a solution that has excess of hydroxide ions. alkane A saturated hydrocarbon with the general formula CnH2n+2. alkylated A molecule that has attached to it an alkyl group (derived from an alkane CnH2n+2), which is a saturated hydrocarbon with a single bond available. allotrope (allotropic form) Different bonding arrangements allowing for different forms of matter to be made from a single type of atom. Different forms of matter made in this way are called allotropes. For example, ozone (O3) and dioxygen (O2) are allotropes of the element oxygen. Also, diamond, buckyball, and graphite are allotropes of carbon. amalgam An alloy of mercury with another metal, often used as a dental filling. amide an organic functional group that has the following structure: amphetamines Any of the compounds which are substituted or slightly modified amphetamine molecules.

amphoteric A compound that can act as a base and an acid. anabolism Metabolic synthesis of proteins, fats and other constituents of living organisms from molecules or simple precursors, which usually requires an input of energy. anesthetic A substance that produces loss of sensation, sometimes with loss of consciousness as well. angstrom A unit of length equal to 1 x 10-8 cm or .1 nanometer. It was named after A. J. Angstrom (1814-1874), a Swedish spectroscopist. anion A negative ion. anode A positive electrode; the electrode toward which electrons flow; the electrode at which oxidation occurs. anthropogenic Resulting from the actions and influence of human beings. antiaromaticity The unusual instability that results from a continuous cyclic system of 4n pi electrons (where n is any integer). antimatter Any subatomic particle identical in mass to a proton, neutron, or electron, but with the opposite charge. For example, a positron is a positive electron. A collision between a particle and its respective antiparticle results in both being annihilated, with their masses converted to photons of equivalent energy. antisense Having a sequence complementary to a segment of genetic material and serving to inhibit gene function. aquifer Water bearer. Earth materials that contain ground water and through which ground water may flow freely. Some examples of these include sand, porous sandstone, and gravel. Aquifers vary widely in their ability to hold water and the speed at which water flows through them. aromaticity The unusual stability that results from a continuous cyclic system of 4n + 2 (where n is any integer) pielectrons in a cyclic compound. This stability results from complete filling of bonding pi molecular orbitals. asteroid Any of the thousands of small bodies that revolve about the sun in orbits lying mostly between those of Mars and Jupiter. Also known as a minor planet. atherosclerosis A disease of the arterial walls characterized by fatty deposits and abnormal tissue growth.

atmosphere Unit of pressure equal to 101325 pascals or 760mmHg. Its symbol is atm. atom The smallest unit of an element which has all the properties of the element. It is composed of protons, neutrons and electrons. autoclave An airtight chamber use for processes requiring dry temperatures above 212 degrees F. Avogadro's number The number of particles present in 1 mole of a substance, experimentally determined to be 6.02 x 1023.

B 27
bactericide A bactericide is a substance that kills bacteria. balance Any piece of apparatus used to determine the mass of a sample of matter. barium Barium is the name for the element with atomic number 56 and is represented by the symbol Ba. barometer A barometer is a device that measures atmospheric pressure. barrel A barrel is a unit of volume. The volume of a barrel varies according to the industry. base A compound that produces hydroxide ions in water solution. battery An electrochemical cell that can be used as a source of direct current at a constant voltage. becquerel The becquerel is a SI unit of radioactive activity. 1 becquerel = 1 radioactive decay/second (occasionally called 1 disintegration/second). The symbol for becquerel is Bq. benzyne In organic chemistry: an unstable intermediate species consisting of a benzene ring with an adjacent chemical bond created by the side-to-side overlap of the sp2 orbitals on the adjacent carbon atoms of the ring. berkelium Berkelium is the name for the element with atomic number 97 and is represented by the symbol Bk. beryllium Beryllium is the name for the element with atomic number 4 and is represented by the symbol Be.

bidentate Bidentate refers to a coordination complex where two ligands can attach itself to a central atom. bimolecular Bimolecular refers to an elementary chemical reaction that occurs when two reactant molecules collide with each other. binary acid A binary acid is a binary compound where one element is hydrogen and the other is a nonmetal. binge drinking The consumption of five or more drinks in a row on at least one occasion. biochemistry The science that makes use of chemistry to learn about and explain biologically important systems. biocide A biocide is a substance or microorganism that kills or controls growth of living organisms. biomethylation Becoming methylated through biological action; for example, bacteria can generate methylated mercury in aquatic sediments. bismuth Bismuth is the name for the element with atomic number 83 and is represented by the symbol Bi. bitumen Bitumen is a naturally occurring mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The mixture takes the form of a viscous, black, sticky tar-like substance. It can be refined from crude oil by fractional distillation. blood alcohol content The amount of alcohol in a person's bloodstream measured in percentages. Abbreviated BAL or BAC. bohrium Bohrium is the name for the element with atomic number 107 and is represented by the symbol Bh. bond A force which holds together two atoms, two ions, two molecules, or a combination of these. brass An alloy of copper and zinc. brine Water saturated with salt; a strongly saline solution. bromine Bromine is the name for the element with atomic number 35 and is represented by the symbol Br. Bunsen burner Common laboratory burner that uses natural gas or propane, developed by German chemist Robert Wilhelm Bunsen during the 19th century.

C 27
cadmium Cadmium is the name for the element with atomic number 48 and is represented by the symbol Cd. caffeine Caffeine is a chemical substance naturally found in tea and coffee and added to colas. It is a stimulant and diuretic. Caffeine is highly soluble in supercritical fluid carbon dioxide. Caffeine is soluble in water. calorie The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. calorimeter Any one of a number of devices used for measuring the heat content. calx Calx is an oxide of a metal. In early chemical history, when a substance was burned and phlogiston was removed. The residue left behind was called calx of what was burned. carbocyclic Being or having an organic ring of carbon atoms. carbohydrate An organic compound with the general formula Cx(H2O)y. carcinogen A cancer-causing agent. catalysis A process in which a catalyst increases the speed of a chemical reaction. catalyst A substance which increases the rate of a chemical reaction, but itself remains unchanged at the end of the reaction. cathode A negative electrode. It is the electrode from which current leaves an electrolytic cell. cation A positively charged ion. caustic Corrosive; able to eat away or destroy by chemical action. chelated Combined with a metal to form a chelate ring, in which a metal ion is held by coordinate bonds. chiral Relating to a molecule that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image.

chlorofluorocarbons Synthetic compounds containing carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sometimes hydrogen that are used in refrigerants, propellants, the manufacture of foams, and cleaning solvents. chlorophyll The catalytic substance in photosynthesis that contains a Mg2+ ion in the center of a specialized ring structure known as a porphyrin. Porphyrins have a central portion containing nitrogen atoms that can attach to a metal ion. chromatography Any process for separating materials using two phases, one stationary, and one moving. One example: gas chromatography (gas as moving phase, solid as stationary phase). colloid A substance consisting of particles dispersed throughout another substance. combustion Rapid oxidation (burning) accompanied by the release of heat. composting The controlled biological decomposition of organic solid wastes under aerobic (in the presence of oxygen) conditions. Organic materials are transformed into soil enhancers such as humus and mulch. condensation The process of vapor molecules forming a liquid. couples A half-reaction which explicitly shows electron transfer covalent bond Bonds that hold atoms together by the sharing of electrons. covalent radius Value assigned to an atom such that the sum of the covalent radii of atoms A and B is (approximately) the A-B bond length. critical pressure The lowest pressure required to transform a gas into a liquid at the critical temperature. critical temperature One of three parameters (critical pressure and critical molar volume being the other two) defining the point at which random thermal molecular motion become so violent that attractive forces are unable to bring about condensation even when the molecules are squeezed together; a temperature above which a vapor cannot be turned into a liquid no matter how much pressure is applied.

D 27
darmstadtium Darmstadtium is the name for the element with atomic number 110 and is represented by the symbol Ds. Darmstadtium was formally known as ununnilium with symbol Uun.

deaeration Deaeration is a process where dissolved gasses are removed from a solvent. deci Deci is the prefix associated with x10-1 and is denoted by the symbol d. decoction Decoction is a process of extracting oils and other compounds from plant material. The material is first crushed or otherwise broken down, then added to water and boiled. After boiling, any remaining material is filtered out, leaving the desired compounds in the water. deflagration Deflagration is the chemical process where a substance rapidly and intensely burns. This process is generally faster than combustion but slower than a detonation. dehydration A reaction in which the elements that make up water (twice as many hydrogen as oxygen atoms) are removed from an organic compound. deionization The removal of ions. The term is generally used with respect to removal of ions from water. Deionization is commonly achieved by passing the water through successive ion exchange columns. In one column, ions are exchanged for H+ ions. In another column, anions are exchanged for OH- ions. Following a reaction of H+ with OH- ions, no ions remain in solution. denaturant A denaturant is an substance that acts as an additive to prevent human consumption. density The ratio of mass to volume. deprotonation Losing a proton (H+). detergent A substance used for removing dirt. Detergents differ from soaps in that detergents are compounds that are derived from sulfur-containing organic acids. deuterium The isotope of hydrogen that has one neutron. deuteron A deuteron is the nucleus of the hydrogen isotope deuterium. dextrorotatory Able to rotate plane-polarized light in a clockwise fashion. diffusion The gradual mixing of the molecules of 2 or more substances by random molecular motion.

dilute A solution that contains a relatively small amount of solute dissolved in a fixed amount of solvent. dimer A molecule or compound formed by the combination of two identical simple molecules. dipole Produced from an unequal sharing of electrons in a molecule in which there will be a region of partial positive charge and a separate region of partial negative charge. dissociation In an aqueous solution, the separation of a compound into ions. distillation The process used to separate two or more liquids that have different boiling points. dopamine One of many neurotransmitters that is essential in the functioning of the central nervous system and is often considered to be the primary reward neurotransmitter in the brain. It is the precursor to norepinephrine. doping Using banned or illegal natural or synthetic chemicals to enhance athletic performance. dose The measured quantity of a substance, such as a drug, taken at one time. drawdown The act, process, or result of depleting, as in the drawdown of oil reserves. ductile The ability of a substance to be drawn out to form a thin wire. dye A substance used to give color to cloth, plastics, paper, or other materials. Dye may be made from plants or by synthetic chemical reactions. dynamic equilibrium The condition in which the rate of a forward process is exactly the same as the rate of a reverse process.

E 27
ebullition a phase transition from the liquid state to the gas state, usually occurring when a liquid is heated to its boiling point. efficiency The ratio of work done or energy developed by a machine or engine, to the energy supplied to it. effusion Effusion is the movement of a gas through a pore or capillary into another gaseous region or into a vacuum.

elastomer Elastomer is a polymer that can be stretched and returns to its original shape without permanent deformation. electrochemical Describes any effect concerned with the electrical properties of solutions and the ions in solutions. electrode A metal plate or wire for conducting electrons into or out of solutions. electrolysis The use of electrical energy to carry out a chemical reaction. electrolyte A substance that, when dissolved in water produces a solution that conducts electricity. electron A negatively charged subatomic particle, of extremely low mass found in the space outside the nucleus of an atom. electronegative Referring to the property of electronegativity. The most electronegative element is fluorine, having an electronegativity of 4.0 on the Pauling scale. Non-metals are more electronegative than metals. electronegativity The ability of an atom in a molecule to attract electrons toward itself. electrophoresis A method of separating large molecules (such as DNA fragments or proteins) from a mixture of similar molecules. An electric current is passed through a medium containing the mixture, and each kind of molecule travels through the medium at a different rate, depending on its electrical charge and size. Separation is based on these differences. electrostatic Having to do with the positive and negative charges on species such as electrons or ions. The important principle is that like charges repel and opposite charges attract. element A basic building block of matter that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance by ordinary means. emollient A substance that softens or smoothes. emulsifier A substance that promotes the dispersion of small globules of one liquid in another liquid when the two liquids will not mix. enantiomer One of a pair of non-superimposable, mirror-image stereoisomers. energy The ability to do work and transfer heat.

entropy A measure of the disorder of a system. enzymatic Relating to the activity of enzymes, which are biological catalysts that play crucial roles in most biological processes, including metabolism and gene expression. enzyme A biological catalyst that will increase the rate of a chemical reaction, but is not consumed in the course of a reaction. These catalysts are at least hundreds of times more efficient than any man-made catalyst used in industrial processes. epimer One of two steroisomers with more than one chiral center that differ in stereochemical configuration at only one. equilibrium A system in which the rates of the forward and the reverse reaction are equal. excretion The process of ridding the body of metabolic waste products. exergonic process A process that liberates energy. exothermic process A thermodynamic process in which heat flows from a system to the surroundings. extensive property A property that depends on the amount of matter present.

F 27
Fahrenheit The Fahrenheit temperature scale was developed by Daniel Fahrenheit (1686-1736) and denoted by the symbol F. This temperature scale is still in use in a few countries, including the United States for mostly nonscientific uses. It was originally based on three calibrating points. The first point was to allow a mixture of ice, water, and ammonium chloride to reach equilibrium and recorded the lowest temperature as 0 F. The second point was recorded at 32 F when ice would start to form on the surface of still water. The third point was assigned to 96 F and taken from the body temperature of a person. This point was later changed the top number at 212 F for the boiling point of water. family (of elements) Elements found in the same column of the periodic table, also known as a group of elements. These elements will have similar properties. fat A solid ester of a long-chain carboxylic acid with glycerol.

fatty acid A fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long side chain of hydrocarbons. Most fatty acids contain an even number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain and follow the general molecular formula of CH3(CH2)xCOOH where x is the number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. feedstock Feedstock refers to any unprocessed material used to supply a manufacturing process. femto Femto is the prefix associated with x10-15 and is denoted by the symbol f. fenfluramine Amphetamine-like component of fen-phen that suppresses appetite by increasing seratonin levels in the brain. ferrate Ferrate is a polyatomic ion with formula FeO42-. fermentation Fermentation is a class of chemical processes that produce energy through oxidation reactions with organic compounds. fermium Fermium is the name for the element with atomic number 100 and is represented by the symbol Fm. ferric Ferric is a deprecated chemistry term for the iron ion with a +3 oxidation state or Fe3+. ferrous Ferrous is a deprecated chemistry term for the iron ion with a +2 oxidation state or Fe2+. ferrum Ferrum is the Latin name for the element iron. Ferrum is the source for iron's symbol Fe. filter To separate an insoluble solid from a liquid by pour it through a solid (usually paper) to trap the solid particles and separate them from the liquid. filtration Filtration is a mechanical or physical process to separate solid particulates from fluids. fission The process in which heavy nuclei split to form lighter nuclei. forensic Relating to the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems. formula A shorthand way of showing the composition of a substance with the use of symbols and numerical subscripts. francium Francium is the name for the element with atomic number 87 and is represented by the symbol Fr.

freezing The change of phase from a liquid into a solid. frequency The number of complete waves passing a point in space in a given amount of time. friable Friable is a property where a material is easily crumbled or broken down into smaller pieces. fuel A material that can be burned to provide a source of energy. fumigant A gaseous substance used to disinfect an object or to destroy pests. fungicides A chemical that kills fungi or prevents them from growing. furanose A furanose is a five member ring structure containing four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. fusion The joining of two small nuclei to form a larger nucleus.

G 27
gadolinium Gadolinium is the name for the element with atomic number 64 and is represented by the symbol Gd. gallium Gallium is the name for the element with atomic number 31 and is represented by the symbol Ga. It is a member of the metals group. galvanic cell A galvanic cell is a cell where chemical reactions between dissimilar conductors connected through an electrolyte and a salt bridge produce electric energy. A galvanic cell can also be powered by spontaneous oxidation-reduction reactions. galvanize The process of covering iron with a coat of zinc to make it less reactive to air and water. galvanization Galvanization is a process that applies a coat of zinc to metal to prevent oxidation. galvanized steel Steel that has been covered with a layer of zinc metal. galvanometer A device that is very sensitive and able to detect even small flows of electrons through a wire.

gas The least dense state of matter. gas chromatography An analytical chemistry technique in which a sample is vaporized and passed through a column whose walls are covered with a sticky organic solvent; different chemicals in the sample have different affinities for the solvent and separate as they pass through the column. gasohol A mixture of 90% gasoline and 10% ethyl alcohol that is used as an automotive fuel. gasoline A volatile, flammable, liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, obtained from petroleum, and used as fuel for internalcombustion engines. gel A colloid in which the dispersed phase has combined with the continuous phase to produce a semisolid material as a jelly; a colloid formed by coagulation of a sol. gene The fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity. A gene is an ordered sequence of nucleotides located in a particular position on a particular chromosome that encodes a specific functional product (i.e., a protein or RNA molecule). germanium Germanium is the name for the element with atomic number 32 and is represented by the symbol Ge. giga Giga is the prefix associated with x109 and is denoted by the symbol G. glucose A 6-carbon sugar that plays a major role in cell metabolism. glycogen A polysaccharide the body uses for energy storage; it is made up of chains of glucose molecules. When the body has depleted the free glucose in the blood, the liver breaks down glycogen into more glucose. glycol A glycol is a molecule that contains two hydroxyl groups. glycolipid A lipid covalently linked to a sugar or polysaccharide. These biomolecules are important parts of animal cell membranes. glycolysis A complex biochemical process in which one molecule of glucose is anaerobically converted into two molecules of pyruvate and energy in the form of ATP. glycosidic bond A glycosidic bond is a covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate to another functional group or molecule.

gram The basic unit of mass in the metric system. graphite The most stable allotrope, or form of carbon, having a hexagonal type linking of atoms with relatively strong bonds to 3 neighboring carbon atoms, and a much weaker bond to a fourth carbon atom. gray A unit of the absorbed dose of radiation. One gray is one joule per kilogram of tissue.

green vitriol Green vitriol is a deprecated chemical term for the compound iron(II) sulfate, FeSO4. ground state The lowest allowed energy state of an atom, molecule, or ion. group A vertical column in the periodic table.

H 27
hafnium Hafnium is the name for the element with atomic number 72 and is represented by the symbol Hf. half-cell An oxidation or reduction reaction that occurs at an electrode. Two half-cells must be combined to form an electrochemical cell. half-life The time required for concentration of one substance to reach half of its initial value. The time it takes for one half of a substance to be metabolized and/or excreted from the body. half-reaction A reaction that shows the electrons involved in an oxidation or reduction step of a reaction. halide A negatively charged ion of the group VIIA elements. haloalcohol A haloalcohol is an organic compound containing adjacent carbon atoms where one carbon has a halogen substituent and the other carbon has a hydroxyl substituent. haloalkane A haloalkane is an alkane containing one or more halogen atoms. haloarene Haloarene is a molecule where a halogen atom is bonded to a carbon atom that is part of an aryl ring.

halocarbon A halocarbon is a hydrocarbon that contains one or more halogen atoms. haloform A haloform is a trihalomethane where all three halogen atoms are identical. halogen The group VIIa elements in the periodic table. heat The transfer of (thermal) energy between two objects that are at different temperatures. Henry's Law The amount of gas dissolved in a solution is directly proportional to the pressure of the gas above the solution. heptose A heptose is a monosaccharide with seven carbon atoms. herbicide Herbicides are a class of chemical compound that is toxic to plant life. heterocycle A compound containing at least one ring that consists of both carbon and non-carbon atoms . heterogeneous Describes a material or substance or chemical reaction which is not the same throughout in its properties, composition, or state of matter. homeopathy A system of disease treatment involving application of minute doses of a remedy that, in a healthy person, would produce symptoms of the disease. homogeneous Describes a material or substance or chemical reaction which is the same throughout in its properties, composition, or state of matter. hybridization A mixing process, often applied to description of atomic orbitals, producing orbitals that have characteristics intermediate between the various types of orbitals involved. hydrate A crystalline solid with molecules of water trapped in the solid state structure, which can often be removed partly or completely by relatively gentle heating. hydration Having solvent molecules of water surrounding and becoming attached to ions or molecules of the solute. hydrocarbon An organic compound containing only the elements hydrogen and carbon.

hydrolysis Cleavage of a covalent bond brought about by water; the H- and -OH of water typically become attached to the respective cleavage fragments. hydrolyze To add hydrogen or hydroxyl to a substance. hydrophilic Hydrophilic is a molecule or functional group that forms strong hydrogen bonds with water. hypothesis A scientific "hunch," a tentative explanation of or prediction derived from experimentation.

I 12
immiscible Two liquids that do not dissolve in each other. incineration Burning of wastes under controlled high temperatures and oxygen levels that results in their complete combustion; not the same as burning leaves in the back yard or wood in the fireplace. indicator A substance used to indicate the end point of a titration by a change in color. inhibitor A substance that retards the rate of a chemical reaction. intercalation The binding of a molecule between adjacent base pairs in DNA. intermolecular Between molecules. Intermolecular forces are those forces between molecules. intramolecular Refers to a characteristic within one molecule or ion, referring only to the atoms in the molecular or ion. inverse relationship or proportion When one quantity decreases as a result of the other increasing or vice versa. For example, density is inversely related to volume for constant mass. ion An electrically charged particle formed by the gain or loss of electrons. ion-exchanger A resin capable of removing unwanted ions and replacing them with more desirable ones.For example, Ca2+ or Mg2+, which interfere with the action of soap or detergent can be replaced by Na+, which does not. isomers Compounds with the same molecular formulas but different arrangements of atoms.

isotopes Atoms of the same element with differing numbers of neutrons.

J 1
Jacobsons organ The vomeronasal organ; a chemosensory organ located in the nasal septum or roof of the mouth in vertebrates. joule Unit of energy.

K 7
Kelvin The temperature scale that begins with absolute zero as 0 K. ketone An organic compound containing a carbonyl group bonded to two carbon atoms. ketose A simple sugar that has the reactions of a ketone. kiloPrefix meaning 1000. kilogram Base unit for mass in metric system. kinetic energy The energy something possesses due to its motion, depending on mass and velocity. kinetic-molecular theory A theory of the behavior of matter.

L 13
Lanthanides The series of f-block elements between lanthanum and hafnium. laser Acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.A laser is an intense source of light with a very narrow range of wavelengths. The intense light is given off when many ions are stimulated and simultaneously emit a photon at the same wavelength. lattice A regular arrangement of points in space in 3 dimensions.

law Mathematical statement of a relationship that is always the same. leachate The solution produced by passing a liquid through a solid, often containing chemicals that have dissolved from the solid to the liquid. As rainwater passes through landfills and associated sediments, various chemical substances may dissolve in the water and penetrate the aquifer and contaminate ground water. levorotatory Able to rotate plane-polarized light in a counterclockwise fashion. ligand A molecule or ion bonded to a central metal atom or ion in a coordination compound. limewater Common name for a solution of calcium hydroxide. lipid A fatty, waxy or oily non-polar organic compound that is characteristically insoluble in water but readily soluble in organic solvents. liquid The phase of matter in which a substance has a definite volume but no definite shape. liter Unit of volume in the metric system, slightly larger than 1 quart, since 1 liter is 33.2 ounces, or 1 quart is 0.946 liters, to three significant figures. litmus Plant pigment commonly used as an acid base indicator.Litmus is red (or pink) in an acid, and blue in a base. lye Common name for solution of sodium hydroxide.

M 22
macromolecule Name given to a very large, and in most cases biologically important molecule.Molar mass certain to be in the thousands of grams, at least. manometer Device used for measuring small pressures. matter Anything that has mass and takes up space. meniscus Curved surface of a liquid in a container.

metabolite A chemical product of metabolism. metal An element that tends to lose electrons, forming positive ions, and is a good electrical conductor. metalloid An element with properties intermediate between metals and non-metals. meteorite A mass of stone or metal that has reached the earth from outer space. meter Unit of length in the metric system, slightly longer than 1 yard or 36 inches. methanogenic "Methane (CH4) producing"; methanogenic bacteria use hydrogen and carbon dioxide as energy sources and produce methane and water as a result. methylated Having a methyl group (CH3). micromolar Approximately 1x10-6 moles/liter. microscopic Seeing the situation at the particle level: atoms, molecules, or ions. mitochondrion A membrane-bound organelle that carries out oxidative phosphorylation and produces most of the ATP in eucaryotic cells. mixture A grouping together of two or more substances in which each retains its original properties. molality The molal concentration, moles of solute per kilogram of solvent, usually given the symbol m. molarity The number of moles of solute per liter of aqueous solution. mole The amount of substance that contains the same number of elementary particles as are found in exactly 12 g of carbon-12. molecule The smallest unit of a compound that has all the properties of the compound. monomer A molecule or substance which can be polymerized, usually of low molar mass.

monooxygenase An enzyme catalyzing the incorporation of one atom from molecular oxygen into a compound and the reduction of the other atom of oxygen to water. monosaccharide A simple sugar most commonly having 5 or 6 carbon atoms present which cannot be hydrolyzed to simpler sugars.

N 17
nanoPrefix meaning one billionth or 10-9. neurotransmitter A substance that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse. neutralization A process where an acid and a base react with each other to form a salt and water. neutron Electrically neutral subatomic particle found in the nucleus. NIMBY Acronym for Not In My Back Yard. An expression describing the response from members of a community who disapprove of proposed sites for solid waste disposal. A milder form of NOPE (Not On Planet Earth). nitrogenase An enzyme system that catalyzes the reaction of molecular nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3). nitrosamines A group of organic compounds with the basic structure NNO, some of which are powerful cancer-causing chemicals. nomenclature The systematic naming of chemical compounds. non-electrolyte A substance that dissolves in water to form a solution that is non-conducting. nonpolar Having no poles. Used to refer to a bond or molecule that overall has no separation of electrical charge. norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter that increases heart rate, blood pressure, and is related to increased motor activity. It is the precursor to epinephrine. normality A concentration unit relating equivalents of solute to one liter of aqueous solution. nuclear Of or pertaining to nucleus. nucleon A particle found in the nucleus, that is, a proton or a neutron. nucleoside A biologically important molecule consisting of an amine-containing purine or pyrimidine base joined to ribose, a 5-carbon sugar. nucleus The central part of an atom containing protons and neutrons. nutrient A source of nourishment, especially a nourishing ingredient in food.

O 9
octet A stable group of eight electrons in the outer shell of an atom. ohm The unit of electrical resistance.A current of 1 amp at a potential difference of 1 volt experiences 1 ohm of resistance. oligomer A molecule that consists of repeating molecular subunits--essentially a polymer but not as long. By analogy, if a yellow brick is a single subunit, the yellow brick road is a polymer, and the yellow brick driveway is an oligomer. orbital A region of space where there is a high probability of finding an electron in an atom or ion. osmosis The movement of solvent molecules through a membrane from region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration. oxidation A process in which an electron is lost by an atom, molecule or ion. oxygenates Liquid organic compounds that can be blended into gasoline to increase its oxygen content; during combustion, this additional oxygen reduces the output of CO and may reduce emissions of ozone-forming materials. The two major oxygenates in use today are ethanol and MTBE.

ozone The allotrope of oxygen that contains 3 atoms in one molecule, the formula for ozone being O3. ozone layer An atmosphere layer at about 20 to 30 miles high (32 to 48 km), normally characterized by high ozone content, which blocks most solar UV radiation from entering the lower atmosphere.

P 22
peptide A small polymer of amino acids, formed by the condensation copolymerization of several amino acids. period The horizontal rows in the periodic table. pH A measure of the amount of hydrogen ions in a solution, equal to the negative of the base-10 logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. pharmacology The science of drugs; the properties of drugs related to their therapeutic effects. phentermine Amphetamine-like component of fen-phen that increases metabolism by raising the body's levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. photon A particle of electromagnetic radiation having zero mass. photosynthesis Process in which water and carbon dioxide are combined in the presence of sunlight to produce glucose and oxygen.This is the process used by green plants to create their food. phytoplankton Algae, microscopic single-celled plants that float in the surface waters of the sea, lakes and rivers. In the ocean they constitute the bottom of the marine food chain. They have been called 'the pasture of the sea.' Like plants on land, they use sunlight to convert carbondioxide and water into sugars and oxygen in the process of photosynthesis. phytoremediation Using plants to clear toxic metals from the environment by chelation. plasma A gas-like phase of matter that contains charged particles. polarizability Indication of the ease of distortion of an electron cloud around at atom.Large atoms (like iodine) have many electrons, and their location may easily shift, producing regions of partial positive and negative charge.The larger the atom, the greater the polarizability, or the more easily an electron cloud may be distorted.

pollutant A substance that contaminates an environment. polycarbonate A polymer in which the repeating unit is an organic carbonate [ROC(O)O]n. polymer Molecules which are composed of linked repeating units (called monomers) are referred to as polymers. Polymers are the basis for many plastics and synthetic fibers such as Teflon and polyester. porosity The ratio of the size of a material's pores to the volume of the material's mass. precipitate A solid formed in a chemical reaction. precision The agreement of repeated measurements with each other. precursor In metabolism, a chemical substance from which another chemical substance is formed pressure The force per unit area. protein A biological polymer formed by condensation reactions among a set of 20 different amino acids. proton A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus. protonated Having acquired an additional proton (H+).

Q 5
quanta Plural of quantum. quantum The minimum energy change of an atom emitting or absorbing energy. quartz An abundant mineral consisting of silicon dioxide(SiO2) with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs' scale. quench Stopping a reaction quickly, first used to refer to harden steel by quickly putting red-hot steel into cold water. quicklime A common name for calcium oxide.

R 13
radiation Energy emitted from some object. radical A species with an odd number of electrons; formerly called free radical. radioactivity The spontaneous emission of particles and/or energy from atomic nuclei. radioisotope Contraction for words "radioactive isotope" of an element. reactant A starting material in a chemical reaction. reactivity The degree to which a substance will respond to a stimulus or interact with another substance. receptor Protein molecules on the surface of cell membranes used for communication between cells. recycling To treat or process waste materials so as to make them suitable for reuse. The key to successful recycling of materials contained in refuse lies in the separation of recyclable components from the main bulk of the waste. reducing The gain of electrons by an atom, ion, or molecule. reduction A gain of electrons; a decrease in oxidation state. refrigerant A chemical used in refrigeration, to keep substances cool. resistance The opposition of a substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current.From Ohm's Law, R = E/I, the resistance equals the voltage of the cell divided by the current flow. resonance structure Possible structures of a molecule for which more than one electron-dot structure can be written, which differ in the bond pairs between atoms.

S 23
saccharin

A compound, C7H5NO3S, that is several hundred times sweeter than can sugar and is used as a calorie-free sweetener. salt An ionic compound with a positive ion that comes from a base and a negative ion that comes from an acid. silica Silica is the common name for silicon dioxide, SiO2.It exists in nature as crystalline quartz. smog A fog containing fumes, or a photochemical haze caused by the action of ultraviolet radiation on hydrocarbons and NOx from automobile exhaust. sol A liquid colloidal dispersion; a fluid colloidal system in which solid particles are dispersed in a liquid colloidal solution. solubility The maximum amount of a substance that will dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a given temperature. solute The substance dissolved in a solution; substance present in a lesser amount in a solution. solution A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances. solvent The substance present in the largest amount in a solution; often the liquid component. spectrometer An instrument for measuring the emission or absorption of light of a particular wavelength. spectroscopy The science that deals with the use of the spectroscope and with spectrum analysis. A spectroscope is an optical device for producing and observing a spectrum of light or radiation from any source. spin The spin of an electron is designated by ms, the electron spin quantum number, which can have values of +1/2 and -1/2.In the presence of an external magnetic field an electron in an orbital can have one of two possible energy states, which depend on whether the magnetic field associated with the electron is aligned with or against the external magnetic field. stereochemistry The spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules or compounds and the relation of spatial arrangement to the substance is properties. stereoisomers Two or more compounds with the same molecular formula and the same atom-to-atom arrangement, but with different arrangement of atoms in space. stereoisomeric (adjective) steroids

Compounds containing a 17-carbon, four-ring system. stoichiometry The study of the quantitative relationships between reactants and products. stratosphere The layer of the earth's atmosphere that extends from roughly 7 miles (11 km) above the surface to 31 miles (50 km) above the surface. sublimation The direct conversion of a solid to a gas. substituent An atom or group that replaces another atom or group in a molecule. superconductivity A state in which the electrical resistance of a material is so low that it cannot be measured and appears to be zero. The superconducting state is also characterized by unusual magnetic properties. supercritical Above the critical point; above critical temperature or pressure. supersaturated solution A solution that temporarily contains more solute than the saturated amount at some temperature. surface tension The energy required to disrupt the surface of a liquid.

T 11
taxol A naturally occurring compound (extracted from the bark of the Pacific yew tree) that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating advanced breast or ovarian cancers. temperature A measure of the average kinetic energy of a substance. Determines the direction of heat transfer. teratogen A substance that causes fetal abnormalities. theory A principle that explains a body of facts and the laws based on them. thermodynamics The study of energy and its transformation. titration A procedure for quantitative analysis by carrying out a reaction in solution by measurement of volumes using a reactant of known concentration.

torr A unit of pressure equal to 1 mmHg or 1/760 of an atmosphere. toxicity The degree to which a substance is poisonous. triad A group of three elements whose chemical and physical properties aresomewhat related. tritium A rare isotope of hydrogen with one proton and two neutrons. troposphere The lowest part of the earth's atmosphere, extending from the surface of the planet to the bottom of the stratosphere.

U 3
unit A set magnitude of measurements used to express a certain type of physical quantity such as length, mass, and time. The SI units replaced previous used system of units for scientific purposes. unsaturated An organic compound with one or more double or triple covalent bonds between carbon atoms in each molecule. unsaturated solution A solution in which more solute can be dissolved at a given temperature.

V 8
vapor Another name for a gas. venting Providing an opening for the discharge of gases or the relief of pressure. viscosity Resistance of a substance to flow. volatile A substance which is easily vaporized. volatize To make volatile; to cause to pass off in vapor. volt A unit of electrical potential.

volume The space occupied by a mass. vulcanization The process for changing rubber from a weak material into a hard, strong material, usually by heating with sulfur.

W 2
wavelength The distance between any two identical points in consecutive cycles of a wave.Often measured from peak to peak or crest to crest. Symbolized by the Greek letter lambda. weight The measures of the earth's gravitational pull on a object.

X 2
X ray Electromagnetic radiation of high frequency and short wavelength (ranging from 10-11 to 10-9 meters). X-ray crystallography A technique of determining a molecule's three-dimensional structure by analyzing the X-ray diffraction patterns of crystals made up of the molecule in question.

Y 2
yellow A color. yoctomole (ymol) 10-24 moles; A single molecule corresponds to 1/Avogadro's number, or 1.66 X 10-24 moles, or 1.66 ymol.

Z 3
zeolite A natural or synthetic hydrated aluminosilicate with an open three-dimensional crystal structure which water molecules are held in cavities in the lattice. They are used to soften water. zwitterion An ion that has a positive and negative charge on the same group of atoms. It is also called dipolar ion. zymogen An inactive biomolecule that is a precursor to an enzyme.