Page 202 - The Periodic Table Book

Glossary Glossary

Acid Alloy Battery Chemistry
A compound that contains A material made by mixing A device containing The scientific study of the
hydrogen, and releases a metal with tiny amounts of chemicals that react to properties and reactions of
ions of hydrogen when other metals or non-metals. produce an electric current. the elements.
it is dissolved in water. Steel is a common alloy used There are two main kinds
These ions make acids in buildings and railways. of battery: rechargeable Chemical
very reactive. and non-rechargeable. Another word for a substance,
Artificial generally meaning a compound
Actinide Something that does not Boiling point made from several elements.
A member of a group of exist in nature. Several The temperature at which
radioactive metals with elements, including all that a liquid gets hot enough Combustion
relatively large atoms. are heavier than uranium, are to change into a gas. A chemical reaction, involving
artificially produced by oxygen, in which a fuel burns
Alchemist scientists in laboratories. Bond to produce heat and light in
People who experimented The attraction between atoms the form of flames.
with chemicals before the Atmosphere that holds them together in an
science of chemistry began. The mixture of gases that element or a compound.
Alchemists thought they could surrounds a planet or moon.
turn ordinary metals into gold. Earth’s atmosphere is a Brittle
mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, A way of describing a hard
Alkali and argon, with tiny amounts solid that shatters easily.
A compound that takes of several other gases.
hydrogen ions from water Carbonate
molecules when it is Atom A compound that contains
dissolved in water. Alkalis The smallest unit of an carbon and oxygen atoms, as
react with acids. element. Atoms are composed well as atoms of other elements.
of protons, neutrons, and Many minerals are carbonates.
Alkali metal electrons. The atoms of a
A group of metals that particular element all have Catalyst
make alkalis when they the same number of protons. A substance that speeds up
react with water. a chemical reaction.
Atomic number Flames are the result
Alkaline earth metal The number of protons Chemist of combustion.
A group of metals that are in an atom of an element. A scientist who studies the
found in nature, mainly in Every element has a unique, elements, their compounds,
alkaline minerals. unchanging atomic number. and chemical reactions. Compound
A substance made of the atoms
of one or more elements that
These vanadinite are bonded together in a
crystals contain particular combination.
the element
vanadium. Conductor
A substance that lets heat or
electricity flow easily through it.

Contract
To make or become smaller.
Solids, liquids, and gases
usually contract when the
temperature goes down.

Corrosion
A chemical reaction that
attacks a metal, or other
solid object, usually due to the
200 presence of oxygen and water.

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