suspensionA heterogeneous mixture in which the
particles are large (in excess of 1000 nm).
surroundingsThe surroundings is a thermodynamic
term meaning the part of the universe that is not
the system that is being studied.
system The system is a thermodynamics term mean-
ing the part of the universe that we are studying.
ternary compounds Ternary compounds are those
containing three (or more) elements.
thermochemistry Thermochemistry is the part of
thermodynamics dealing with the changes in heat
that take place during chemical processes, for
example ΔHfusion.
thermodynamicsThermodynamics is the study of
energy and its transformations.
theoretical yieldThe theoretical yield is the maxi-
mum amount of product that can be formed.
titrant The titrant is that solution in a titration that
has a known concentration.
titration A titration is a laboratory procedure in which
a solution of known concentration is used to deter-
mine the concentration of an unknown solution.
transition elements Groups 3–12 on the periodic
table are called the transition elements.
transmutationTransmutation is a nuclear reaction
that results in the creation of one element from
another one.
triple point The triple point of a substance is the
combination of temperature and pressure on
a phase diagram at which all three states of matter
can exist in equilibrium.
Tyndall effect The Tyndall effect is exhibited when
a light is shone through a colloid and is visible,
owing to the reflection of the light off the larger
colloid particles.
unimolecular reactions Unimolecular reactions are
reactions in which a single chemical species
decomposes or rearranges.
unit cells Unit cells are the repeating units in
a crystal lattice.
unsaturated Unsaturated organic compounds
have carbons that do not have the maximum
number of bonds to other atoms; there is at least
one carbon-to-carbon double or triple bond
present.
unsaturated solutionAn unsaturated solution has
less than the maximum amount of solute
dissolved in a given amount of solvent.
valence bond theory The valence bond theory
describes covalent bonding as the overlap of
atomic orbitals to form a new kind of orbital, a
hybrid orbital.
valence electronsValence electrons are the electrons
in the outermost energy level (outermost shell).
Valence electrons are normally considered to
be only the s and p electrons in the outermost
energy level.
van der Waals equationvan der Waals equation is an
equation that is a modification of the ideal gas equa-
tion to compensate for the behavior of real gases.
van’t Hoff factor (i)The van’t Hoff factor is the
ratio of moles of solute particles formed to moles
of solute dissolved in solution.
vapor pressureThe pressure exerted by the gaseous
molecules that are at equilibrium with a liquid in
a closed container.
viscosityViscosity is the resistance to flow of a liquid.
volume percentThe volume percent of the solution
is the volume of the solute divided by the volume
of the solution and then multiplied by 100% to
generate the percentage.
VSEPR theoryThe VSEPR (valence shell electron-
pair repulsion) theory says that the electron pairs
around a central atom will try to get as far as pos-
sible from each other in order to minimize the
repulsive forces. This theory is used to predict
molecular geometry.
water dissociation constant(Kw) The water dissoci-
ation constant is the equilibrium constant associ-
ated with the ionization of pure water.
wave function The wave function is a mathematical
description of the electron’s motion.
wavelength (λ) Wavelength is the distance between
two identical points on a wave.
weak acidA weak acid is an acid that only partially
ionizes in solution.
weak baseA weak base is a base that only partially
ionizes in solution.
weak electrolytesWeak electrolytes only partially
ionize or dissociate in solution.366 Glossary