IB Chemistry Topic 6 & 16 Definitions

This page contains our IB Chemistry definitions for topic 6 & 16. By learning each one of these definitions, you will fully cover the content for IB Chemistry 'Mechanisms of Chemical Change'.
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activity series

A table outlining the order of how easily different elements undergo oxidation, which decreases down the list

alkane

A saturated hydrocarbon

alkene

An unsaturated hydrocarbon that contains at least one C=C double bond

amphiprotic

A substance that can either accept or donate a proton to become an acid or a base

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amphoteric

A substance that can act as either an acid or a base

anode

The electrode where electrons exit the external wire and oxidation occurs 

biological oxygen demand (BOD)

The amount of dissolved oxygen required to decompose organic material in water

Brønsted-Lowry acid

A substance that can donate a proton

Brønsted-Lowry base

A substance that can accept a proton

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buffer solution

A solution that is able to resist pH changes when small amounts of acid or base are added

cathode

The electrode where electrons enter the external wire and reduction occurs 

conjugate acid

The base that has accepted a proton and can now donate one

conjugate base

The acid that has donated a proton and can now accept one

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electrochemical series

A table showing the standard electrode potentials for each reaction

electrolysis

The forcing of non-spontaneous reactions by applying a current of electricity

electrolyte

A conductive solution

electrolytic cell

A device that passes electricity from an external souce through an electrolyte to force non-spontaneous reactions to occur

electrophile

A substance that is attracted to electrons

electrophilic substitution

A reaction in which an electrophile reacts to swap ligands

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electroplating

An industrial method used to coat one metal with a thin layer of another metal using electrolysis

half-cell

A metal in contact with an aqueous solution of its own ions

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indicator

A weak acid or base who's ionised (In-) form is a different color than its unionised (Hin) form

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Lewis acid

A substance that can accept a pair of electrons

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Lewis base

A substance that can donate a pair of electrons

nucleophile

A substance that is attracted to nuclei

nucleophilic substitution reaction

A reaction in which a nucleophile is bumped out of a molecule by a more electronegative reagent

oxidizing agent

A substance that oxidizes another substance and itself undergoes reduction

pH

Stands for power of hydrogen. pH is a measure of acidity 

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pOH

Stands for power of hydroxide. pOH is a measure of alkalinity 

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positive inductive effect

The drawing of electrons from surrounding carbons from a positive tertiary/secondary carbon

reducing agent

A substance that reduces another substance and itself undergoes oxidation

strong acid

An acid that completely dissociates into its ions

strong base

A base that completely dissociates into its ions

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the standard electrode potential

The voltage produced by a half-cell compared to the standard hydrogen electrode

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the standard electromotive force

A force generated by a voltaic cell that moves electrons from the anode to the cathode via the circuit

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the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)

A platinum electrode in 1.0mol/dm3 H2 gas and [H+] solution at STP with a standard electrode potential of 0V

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titration

A technique used to find the unknown concentration of a solution by reacting it dropwise with a standard solution

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universal indicator

An mixture of indicators that has an endpoint where it changes color

Voltaic cell

A device that converts energy from spontaneous exothermic reactions to electricity

weak acid

An acid that partially dissociates into its ions

weak base

A base that partially dissociates into its ions

Winkler Method

The application of redox to measure the biological oxygen demand

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