Science / Chemistry Glossary

Adsorption: Adsorption is collection of a substance on the surface of a solid or a liquid. For example, gases that make water taste bad are strongly adsorbed on charcoal granules in water filters.

Adsorption Chromatography: A technique for separating or analyzing mixtures that contain at least one component that is preferentially adsorbed by the stationary phase as it moves over it.

Adsorption Indicator: A substance that indicates an excess of a reactant in a precipitation reaction. For example, dichlorofluorescein is added to an NaCl solution being titrated with silver nitrate. Before the e . . . View Full Definition

Aeration: aerate Preparation of a saturated solution of air gases by either spraying the solution in air or by bubbling air through it.

Aerosol: A colloid in which solid particles or liquid droplets are suspended in a gas. Smoke is an example of a solid aerosol; fog is an example of a liquid aerosol.

Agar: A gel made from seaweed used to make salt bridges.

Alanine: (A, CH3CH(NH2)COOH) Ala; alpha-aminopropionic acid. A naturally occurring aliphatic amino acid which is required for protein synthesis but is not essential in the diet. Beta-alanine (NH2CH2C . . . View Full Definition

Alcohol: An alcohol is an organic compound with a carbon bound to a hydroxyl group. Examples are methanol, CH3OH; ethanol, CH3CH2OH; propanol, CH3CH2CH2OH. Compounds with -OH attached to an aromatic . . . View Full Definition

Aldehyde: (RCHO) An aldehyde is an organic compound with a carbon bound to a -(C=O)-H group. Examples are formaldehyde (HCHO), acetaldehyde, CH3CHO, and benzaldehyde, C6H6CHO.

Aliphatic: An organic compound that does not contain ring structures.

Aliquot: A sample of precisely determined amount taken from a material.

Alkali Metal: (alkaline earth metal) alkali metal element The Group 1 elements, lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and francium (Fr) react with cold water for form stron . . . View Full Definition

Alkaline: Having a pH greater than 7.

Alkaline Earth: An oxide of an alkaline earth metal, which produces an alkaline solution in reaction with water.

Alkaline Earth Metal: (alkali metal) The Group 2 elements, beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra) form alkaline oxides and hydroxides and are called 'alkaline e . . . View Full Definition

Alkaline Error: A systematic error that occurs when glass electrodes are used to read the pH of an extremely alkaline solution; the electrode responds to sodium ions as though they were hydrogen ions, givin . . . View Full Definition

Alkalinity: A measure of a material's ability to neutralize acids. Alkalinities are usually determined using titration.

Alkaloid: A class of bitter-tasting, basic organic compounds with nitrogen-containing rings. Alkaloids often have powerful effects on living things. Examples are cocaine, nicotine, strychnine, caffein . . . View Full Definition

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