http://www.ck12.org Chapter 27. Glossary
27.2 B
balanced equation
A chemical equation in which mass is conserved and there are equal numbers of atoms of each element on
both sides of the equation.
band of stability
The range of stable nuclei on a graph of the number of neutrons to protons.
barometer
An instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure.
base
An ionic compound that produces hydroxide ions when dissolved in water.
base ionization constant
The equilibrium constant for the ionization of a base.
basic solution
A solution in which the concentration of hydroxide ions is greater than the concentration of hydrogen ions.
battery
A group of electrochemical cells combined together as a source of direct electric current at a constant voltage.
beta particle (β)
A high-speed electron emitted from the nucleus of an atom during some kinds of radioactive decay.
binary acid
An acid that consists of hydrogen and one other element.
binary ionic compound
An ionic compound composed of a monatomic metal cation and a monatomic nonmetal anion.
binary molecular compound
A molecular compound composed of two elements.
biochemistry
A branch of chemistry that is the study of chemical processes that occur in living things.
boiling point
The temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid is equal to the external pressure.
boiling point elevation
The difference in temperature between the boiling point of the pure solvent and that of the solution.
bond energy
The energy required to break a covalent bond between two atoms.
Boyle’s law
A gas law which states that the volume of a given mass of gas varies inversely with the pressure when the
temperature is kept constant.
Brønsted-Lowry acid
A molecule or ion that donates a hydrogen ion in a reaction.
Brønsted-Lowry base
A molecule or ion that accepts a hydrogen ion in a reaction.
buffer
A solution composed of a weak acid or a base and its salt. A buffer resists changes in pH when either an acid
or a base is added to it.
buffer capacity
The amount of acid or base that can be added to buffer solution before a large change in pH occurs.