http://www.ck12.org Chapter 27. Glossary
A small whole number placed in front of a formula in a chemical equation in order to balance it.
colligative property
A property of a solution that depends only upon the number of solute particles dissolved in the solution and
not on their identity.
collision theory
A set of principles that states that reacting particles can form products when they collide with one another,
provided those collisions have enough kinetic energy and the correct orientation.
colloid
A heterogeneous mixture whose particle size is intermediate between those of a solution and a suspension.
combination reaction
A reaction in which two or more substances combine to form a single new substance.
combined gas law
Gas law which expresses the relationship between the pressure, volume, and absolute temperature of a fixed
amount of gas.
combustion reaction
A reaction in which a substance reacts with oxygen gas, releasing energy in the form of light and heat.
common ion
An ion that is in common to both salts in a solution.
common ion effect
A decrease in the solubility of an ionic compound as a result of the addition of an ion that is in common to
one of the ions already in the saturated solution.
compound
A substance that contains two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed proportion.
compressibility
A measure of how much a given volume of matter decreases when placed under pressure.
concentrated
A solution that has a relatively large amount of dissolved solute.
concentration
A measure of the amount of solute that has been dissolved in a given amount of solvent or solution.
condensation
The change of state from a gas to a liquid.
condensation polymer
A polymer formed by condensation reactions.
condensation reaction
A reaction in which two molecules combine to form a single molecule.
conjugate acid
The particle produced when a base accepts a proton.
conjugate acid-base pair
A pair of substances related by the loss or gain of a single hydrogen ion.
conjugate base
The particle produced when an acid donates a proton.
control group
A group that experiences the same conditions as the experimental groups with the exception of the variable
that is being tested.
control rod
A rod made of cadmium or boron that is used in a nuclear reactor to limit the available neutrons by absorbing
some of them and preventing the fission reaction from proceeding too rapidly.
conversion factor
Ratio of equivalent measurements used to convert a quantity from one unit to another.
coordinate covalent bond
A covalent bond in which one of the atoms contributes both of the electrons in the shared pair.