SOLUTION CHEMISTRY

DEFINITIONS

Atom - the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element, consisting of a nucleus containing combinations of neutrons and protons and one or more electrons bound to the nucleus by electrical attraction; the number of protons determines the identity of the element.

Element - one of a class of substances that cannot be separated into simpler substances by chemical means.

Compound - composed of two or more parts, elements, or ingredients:

Pure substance - made up of only one compound or element

Mixture - a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically united and that exist in no fixed proportion to each other.

Homogenous – a mixture that appears as one thing (example, salt dissolved in water)

Heterogenous – a mixture that appears as different things (example, dirt in water)

Colloid – a heterogenous mixture that doesn’t separate over time (example, fog doesn’t separate till conditions change)

Suspension – a heterogenous mixture that does separate over time (example, dirt settles to the bottom of water given time)