Investigate chemical reactions, molecular structures, and physico-chemical processes in an interactive laboratory
Chemistry is the science of substances, their properties, structure, and transformations:
An atom consists of a nucleus (protons + neutrons) and electrons orbiting around the nucleus.
Chemical reactions are processes of transforming one substance into another:
Chemical equilibrium is a state where the rates of forward and reverse reactions are equal.
Organic chemistry studies carbon compounds and their properties:
Physical chemistry studies the physical principles of chemical phenomena:
Studies the rates of chemical reactions and mechanisms of their occurrence.
Studying the interaction of electricity and chemistry:
Mole is a unit of substance amount in the SI system. One mole contains 6.022×10²³ particles (Avogadro number). This is the amount of atoms in 12 grams of carbon-12.
A catalyst lowers the activation energy of a reaction, creating an alternative pathway for transforming reactants into products. It is not consumed in the reaction and can catalyze many cycles.
pH is a measure of acidity or basicity of a solution. pH = -log[H⁺]. A value of 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acidic, more than 7 is basic. The scale is logarithmic, so pH 6 is ten times more acidic than pH 7.
A buffer solution contains a weak acid and its conjugate base (or a weak base and its conjugate acid). It resists changes in pH upon addition of small amounts of acid or base.
Enthalpy (H) is a thermodynamic function that characterizes the heat content of a system at constant pressure. The change in enthalpy (ΔH) indicates how much heat is absorbed or released during a reaction.
Le Chatelier's principle states that if an external influence acts on a system at equilibrium, the system will adjust to counteract this influence. For example, increasing temperature shifts the equilibrium towards an endothermic reaction.
Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond. Pauling scale: F (4.0) - most electronegative, Cs (0.7) - least electronegative. The difference in electronegativity defines the type of bond.
Chromatography is a method of separating mixtures based on the different rates of movement through a stationary phase. Components with greater affinity for the stationary phase move more slowly.
Stereochemistry studies the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in molecules and its effect on chemical properties. Includes isomerism, chirality, and conformation of molecules.
Enzymes are biological catalysts that lower the activation energy of reactions. They have an active site where the substrate binds and is transformed. Enzymes work on a 'lock-and-key' principle or induced fit.