Academic Chemistry Vocabulary

Word Origin: The word "aromaticity" in the context of organic chemistry comes from the term "aromatic," which was originally used to describe certain fragrant substances found in nature, such as spices and flowers. The term was first coined by the chemist August Wilhelm von Hofmann in the mid-19th century to describe a class of compounds that included benzene and its derivatives, which exhibited unique chemical properties and stability compared to other organic compounds. The concept of aromaticity was further developed by the chemist Friedrich August Kekulé, who proposed the idea of a cyclic structure for benzene in 1865. This led to the discovery of the delocalized pi-electron system in aromatic compounds, which is responsible for their stability and unique reactivity. Today, the term "aromaticity" is used in organic chemistry to refer to the special stability and reactivity exhibited by certain cyclic compounds, known as aromatic compounds, that have a fully conjugated pi-electron system. These compounds follow the rules of aromaticity, such as Hückel's rule, and exhibit properties such as resonance stabilization, planarity, and unique chemical reactivity.

Word Origin: The word "elimination" in the context of organic chemistry comes from the Latin word "eliminare," which means to remove or expel. In organic chemistry, elimination refers to a reaction in which a molecule loses atoms or functional groups to form a new compound. This process often involves the removal of a leaving group and the formation of a double bond or other unsaturated structure.

Word Origin: The term "functional group" in the context of organic chemistry originates from the late 19th century. The word "functional" comes from the Latin word "functio," meaning "performance" or "execution." In organic chemistry, a functional group is a specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of that molecule. These groups are responsible for the functional properties of organic compounds, hence the term "functional group." The concept of functional groups was developed by German chemist August Kekulé and others in the mid-19th century to help classify and understand the diversity of organic compounds.

Word Origin: The word "hydrocarbon" is derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water and "carbo" meaning coal. This term was first used in the mid-19th century to describe organic compounds composed of only hydrogen and carbon atoms. These compounds were originally thought to be derived from coal tar, hence the name "hydrocarbon." Today, hydrocarbons are known to be abundant in fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas, as well as in various organic compounds found in living organisms.

Word Origin: The word "isomer" comes from the Greek roots "iso," meaning "equal," and "meros," meaning "part." In organic chemistry, isomers are compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements of atoms. This term was first used in the late 19th century to describe these types of compounds.

Word Origin: The word "stereochemistry" is derived from the Greek words "stereos" meaning solid or three-dimensional, and "chemistry" meaning the study of the composition, structure, and properties of substances. In the context of organic chemistry, stereochemistry refers to the branch of chemistry that deals with the spatial arrangement of atoms within molecules and the effect of this arrangement on the physical and chemical properties of the compound. Stereochemistry is crucial in understanding the structure and reactivity of organic molecules, as even small changes in the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms can have a significant impact on the properties and behavior of a compound.

Word Origin: The word "substitution" in the context of organic chemistry comes from the Latin word "substituere," which means "to put in place of." This term is used to describe a type of chemical reaction in which an atom or group of atoms in a molecule is replaced by another atom or group of atoms.

Word Origin: The word "addition" in the context of organic chemistry comes from the Latin word "additio," which means "an adding." In organic chemistry, addition refers to a reaction in which two or more molecules combine to form a single product molecule. This can involve the addition of atoms or groups of atoms to a carbon-carbon double or triple bond, resulting in the formation of a new single bond.

Word Origin: The term "valence" in inorganic chemistry comes from the Latin word "valentia," which means strength or capacity. It was first used in the late 19th century by chemist Edward Frankland to describe the combining power of an element or radical. The concept of valence is essential in understanding how atoms bond and interact with each other to form molecules and compounds.

Word Origin: The word "transition" in the context of inorganic chemistry comes from the Latin word "transitio," which means "a going across or over." In this context, it refers to the transition metals, a group of elements in the periodic table that have partially filled d orbitals in their electron configuration. These elements are known for their ability to form multiple oxidation states and to serve as catalysts in various chemical reactions. The term "transition" reflects the transitional nature of these elements between the highly reactive alkali and alkaline earth metals and the less reactive post-transition metals.

Word Origin: The word "nonmetals" in the context of inorganic chemistry is derived from the combination of the prefix "non-" meaning "not" or "without" and the word "metals." Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that studies the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds, which typically do not contain metal atoms. Nonmetals are elements that lack the characteristic properties of metals, such as metallic luster, malleability, and conductivity. Examples of nonmetals include hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur.

Word Origin: The word "molecule" comes from the Latin word "molecula," which means a small mass or particle. It was first used in the late 18th century by the chemist Avogadro to describe the smallest particle of a substance that retains the chemical properties of that substance. In inorganic chemistry, a molecule refers to the smallest unit of a compound that can exist independently and still retain the chemical properties of that compound.

Word Origin: The term "Ionic" in the context of inorganic chemistry comes from the Greek word "ion," which means "going" or "one who goes." It was first introduced by the Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius in 1884 to describe chemical compounds that are formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of positively and negatively charged ions. These ions are held together by electrostatic forces, creating an ionic bond.

Word Origin: The word "coordination" in the context of inorganic chemistry comes from the Latin word "coordinare," which means "to arrange in proper order." In inorganic chemistry, coordination refers to the arrangement of atoms or molecules around a central metal ion in a coordination complex. This term was first used in the early 20th century by Alfred Werner, a Swiss chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1913 for his work on coordination compounds.

Word Origin: The word "compound" in the context of inorganic chemistry comes from the Latin word "componere," which means "to put together" or "to combine." In chemistry, a compound is a substance composed of two or more elements chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio. The term "compound" emphasizes the idea that these substances are formed by combining different elements to create a new, distinct substance with its own unique properties.

Word Origin: The word "metals" originates from the Latin word "metallum," which was derived from the Greek word "metallon," meaning "mine" or "quarry." This term was originally used to describe substances that could be extracted from the earth through mining and were malleable, ductile, and could conduct heat and electricity. Over time, the term "metals" came to refer to a specific category of elements on the periodic table that share these properties.

Word Origin: The term "quantitative analysis" in the context of analytical chemistry comes from the Latin word "quantitas," meaning "quantity" or "amount." In analytical chemistry, quantitative analysis refers to the determination of the amount or concentration of a specific component or substance in a sample. This can be done through various methods, such as gravimetric analysis, titration, spectrophotometry, or chromatography, to name a few. The goal of quantitative analysis in analytical chemistry is to accurately measure and quantify the amount of a particular substance in a sample.

Word Origin: The word "spectroscopy" originates from the Latin word "spectra," meaning "image" or "apparition," and the Greek word "skopein," meaning "to look at" or "to examine." In the context of analytical chemistry, spectroscopy refers to the study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation, particularly in terms of the absorption, emission, or scattering of light.

Word Origin: The word "qualitative" comes from the Latin word "qualitas," meaning "quality" or "character," and the word "analysis" comes from the Greek word "analusis," meaning "a breaking up." In the context of Analytical Chemistry, qualitative analysis refers to the determination of the chemical composition of a substance based on its qualitative properties, such as color, odor, taste, or solubility, rather than quantitative measurements.

Word Origin: The term "mass spectrometry" is derived from the Latin words "massa," meaning mass or bulk, and "spectra," meaning appearance or image. Mass spectrometry is a technique used in analytical chemistry to identify and quantify the chemical composition of a sample based on the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. The term was first coined in the early 20th century, and the technique has since become an essential tool in many areas of science and industry.

Word Origin: The word "chromatography" comes from the Greek words "chroma," meaning color, and "graphein," meaning to write. This term was coined in 1906 by the Russian botanist Mikhail Tsvet to describe the method he developed for separating plant pigments. The name reflects the original use of this technique to separate and analyze the colors of plant extracts. Today, chromatography is a widely used technique in analytical chemistry for separating and analyzing complex mixtures of chemicals.

Word Origin: The term "calibration curve" in the context of Analytical Chemistry comes from the Latin word "calibro," which means "to make straight, rule or measure." In this context, a calibration curve is a graphical representation of the relationship between an analytical measurement and the concentration of a standard solution. This curve is used to calibrate analytical instruments and to determine the unknown concentration of a sample based on its measured response.

Word Origin: The word "analyte" is derived from the Greek word "analytos," which means "loosened" or "released." In the context of Analytical Chemistry, an analyte refers to the substance being analyzed or measured in a sample. The term is used to describe the specific component of interest that is being studied in a chemical analysis.

Word Origin: The word "chemical" comes from the Medieval Latin word "chemicalis," which in turn is derived from the Arabic word "al-ḳīmiyā" meaning "the chemistry." The term "reaction" comes from the Latin word "reactio," which means "action in return." Therefore, the term "chemical reaction" refers to the process in which substances undergo chemical changes through interactions with each other, resulting in the formation of new products.

Word Origin: The word "electrochemistry" is derived from the Greek words "electron" meaning "amber" and "chemistry" meaning "concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter." The term was first coined in the early 19th century by the British chemist Michael Faraday to describe the study of the relationship between electrical energy and chemical reactions. Today, electrochemistry is a branch of physical chemistry that focuses on the interactions between electricity and chemical reactions, particularly in the context of redox reactions and the generation of electricity through electrochemical cells.

Word Origin: The word "entropy" comes from the Greek word "entropia," which means "a turning towards" or "transformation." It was first used in the field of thermodynamics by Rudolf Clausius in the 1850s to describe the concept of energy dispersal or the tendency of energy to become more evenly distributed in a closed system. Over time, entropy has evolved to represent the measure of disorder or randomness in a system, and is a fundamental concept in the field of physical chemistry.

Word Origin: The word "equilibrium" in the context of physical chemistry comes from the Latin words "aequus" meaning "equal" and "libra" meaning "balance." It refers to a state of balance or stability in a system where opposing forces or processes are in equal measure, resulting in no net change. This term is commonly used in physical chemistry to describe the point at which the rates of forward and reverse reactions in a chemical system are equal, resulting in no overall change in the concentrations of reactants and products.

Word Origin: The word "kinetics" in the context of physical chemistry is derived from the Greek word "kinesis," which means motion or movement. In physical chemistry, kinetics refers to the study of the rates of chemical reactions and the factors that influence those rates, such as temperature, pressure, and the presence of catalysts. The term "kinetics" is used to describe the dynamic nature of chemical reactions and the changes that occur over time.

Word Origin: The word "molecular" comes from the Latin word "molecula," which means a small mass. "Structure" comes from the Latin word "structura," which means a fitting together. In the context of Physical Chemistry, the term "molecular structure" refers to the arrangement of atoms within a molecule and the chemical bonds that hold them together.

Word Origin: The term "quantum mechanics" originates from the Latin word "quantum," meaning "how much" or "to what extent," and the word "mechanics," which refers to the branch of physics concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements. In the context of physical chemistry, quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory that describes the behavior of matter and energy on the atomic and subatomic scales. It was developed in the early 20th century to explain phenomena that classical mechanics and electromagnetism could not account for, such as the behavior of electrons in atoms and molecules.

Word Origin: The word "thermodynamics" is derived from the Greek words "therme" meaning heat and "dynamis" meaning power or force. Therefore, thermodynamics refers to the study of the relationships between heat, energy, and work in a system.