The minimum amount of kinetic energy that particles need to have in order to react when they collide
addition polymer
A very long molecular chain formed by repeated addition reactions of many unsaturated alkene molecules (monomers).
addition polymerisation
The process in which unsaturated alkene molecules (monomers) add on to a growing polymer chain one at a time to form a very long saturated molecular chain (the addition polymer).
addition reaction
A reaction in which a reactant is added to an unsaturated molecule to make a saturated molecule.
adsorption
The process that occurs when a gas, liquid or solute is held to the surface of a solid or, more rarely, a liquid.
alicyclic hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in a ring structure.
aliphatic hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in straight or branched chains.
alkali
A type of base that dissolves in water forming hydroxide ions, OH- (aq) ions.
alkanes
The homologous series with the general formula: CnH2n+2.
alkyl group
An alkane with a hydrogen atom removed, e.g. CH3, C2H5; alkyl groups are often shown as 'R'.
amount of substance
The quantity whose unit of the mole. Chemists use 'amount of substance' as a means of counting atoms.
anhydrous
A substance that contains no water molecules.
anion
A negatively charged ion.
atom economy
atom economy = molecular mass of the desired product ×100 sum of molecular masses of all products
atomic orbital
A region within an atom that can hold up to two electrons, with opposite spins.
atomic (proton) number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
acid
A species that is a proton donor.
activation energy
The minimum energy required to start a reaction by the breaking of bonds.
addition polymer
A very long molecular chain formed by repeated addition reactions of many unsaturated alkene molecules (monomers).
addition polymerisation
The process in which unsaturated alkene molecules (monomers) add on to a growing polymer chain one at a time to form a very long saturated molecular chain (the addition polymer).
addition reaction
A reaction in which a reactant is added to an unsaturated molecule to make a saturated molecule.
adsorption
The process that occurs when a gas, liquid or solute is held to the surface of a solid or, more rarely, a liquid.
alicyclic hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in a ring structure.
aliphatic hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in straight or branched chains.
alkali
A type of base that dissolves in water forming hydroxide ions, OH- (aq) ions.
alkanes
The homologous series with the general formula: CnH2n+2.
alkyl group
An alkane with a hydrogen atom removed, e.g. CH3, C2H5; alkyl groups are often shown as 'R'.
amount of substance
The quantity whose unit of the mole. Chemists use 'amount of substance' as a means of counting atoms.
anhydrous
A substance that contains no water molecules.
anion
A negatively charged ion.
atom economy
atom economy = molecular mass of the desired product ×100 sum of molecular masses of all products
atomic orbital
A region within an atom that can hold up to two electrons, with opposite spins.
atomic (proton) number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Avogadro constant, NA
The number of atoms per mole of the carbon-12 isotope (6.02 × 1023 mol-1).
base
A species that is a proton acceptor.
biodegradable material
A substance that is broken down naturally in the environment by living organisms.
Boltzmann distribution
The distribution of energies of molecules at a particular temperature, usually shown as a graph.
carbanion
An organic ion in which a carbon atom has a negative charge.
carbocation
An organic ion in which a carbon atom has a positive charge.