Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are …
A chemical symbol is an abbreviation that is used to indicate an element or an atom of an element. For example, the symbol for mercury is Hg. We use the …
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is its atomic number (Z). This is the defining trait of an element. Its value determines the identity of …
Chemical Bonds
The electrons of the outermost energy level determine the energetic stability of the atom and its tendency to form chemical bonds with …
A hydrogen bond is formed when a weakly positive hydrogen atom already bonded to one electronegative atom (for example, the oxygen in the water molecule) …
Ions – When an atom participates in a chemical reaction that results in the donation or acceptance of one or more electrons, the atom becomes positively …
Solids, liquids, and gases are the three states of matter commonly found on Earth. A solid is rigid and possesses a definite shape. A liquid flows and …
All chemical reactions begin with a reactant, the general term for one or more substances entering the reaction. Sodium and chloride ions, for example, …
Chemical reactions require sufficient energy to cause the matter to collide with enough precision and force that old chemical bonds can be broken and new …
A variety of factors influence the rate of chemical reactions. For a chemical reaction to happen, atoms must collide with enough energy to overcome the …
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera …
Acids and bases play several important roles in biology. The pH of a biological system can significantly impact the function of biological molecules, …
Protons and neutrons have approximately the same mass, about 1.67 × 10-24 grams. Scientists arbitrarily define this amount of mass as one atomic mass …
Control over colloidal assembly is of utmost importance for the development of functional colloidal materials with tailored structural and mechanical …