keywords- chemistry , class 7

The Language of Chemistry

The Language of Chemistry

Earlier there were several references to terms like quantitative and chemical reaction. These terms along with many others form the basis of the language of chemistry. In order to communicate what needs to be understood in this course, you will need to be familiar with these terms. Or in other words, learn to speak chemistry.

Let's start with defining chemistry in general. Chemistry is the study of the composition, properties and behavior of matter. And as we define the word we also add to our list of needed definitions � What is matter? What is meant by the terms composition, properties and what behaviors might a chemical compound have?

Matter is anything that has mass and volume i.e. takes up space. This pretty much means that chemistry is the study of just about everything. We define matter by its composition � what it is made of chemically. All matter is composed of elements. The periodic table shows that there are 118 known elements.

The Periodic Table

• HHydrogen
• HeHelium
• LiLithium
• BeBeryllium
• BBoron
• CCarbon
• NNitrogen
• OOxygen
• FFluorine
• NeNeon
• NaSodium
• MgMagnesium
• AlAluminium
• SiSilicon
• PPhosphorus
• SSulfur
• ClChlorine
• ArArgon
• KPotassium
• CaCalcium
• ScScandium
• TiTitanium
• VVanadium
• CrChromium
• MnManganese
• FeIron
• CoCobalt
• NiNickel
• CuCopper
• ZnZinc
• GaGallium
• GeGermanium
• AsArsenic
• SeSelenium
• BrBromine
• KrKrypton
• RbRubidium
• SrStrontium
• YYttrium
• ZrZirconium
• NbNiobium
• MoMolybdenum
• TcTechnetium
• RuRuthenium
• RhRhodium
• PdPalladium
• AgSilver
• CdCadmium
• InIndium
• SnTin
• SbAntimony
• TeTellurium
• IIodine
• XeXenon
• CsCaesium
• BaBarium
• La-LuLanthanide
• HfHafnium
• TaTantalum
• WTungsten
• ReRhenium
• OsOsmium
• IrIridium
• PtPlatinum
• AuGold
• HgMercury
• TlThallium
• PbLead
• BiBismuth
• PoPolonium
• AtAstatine
• RnRadon
• FrFrancium
• RaRadium
• Ac-LrActinide
• RfRutherfodum
• DbDubnium
• SgSeaborgium
• BhBohrium
• HsHassium
• MtMeitnerium
• DsDamstadium
• RgRoentgenium
• UubUnunbium
• UutUnuntrium
• UuqUnunquadium
• UupUnunpentium
• UuhUnunhexium
• UusUnunseptum
• UuoUnunoctium

• CSolid
• HgLiquid
• HGas
• RfUnknown

• Alkadi metals
• Lanthanoids
• Actinoids
• Poor metals
• Noble gases
• Transition metals
• Other non-metals
• Alkadine earth metals

States & Properties of Matter

As we look further at our definition of matter, we find many more terms used in common chemistry language. Matter is made up of various materials and can be observed in many states.

The states of matter are defined as solid, liquid or gas. Each of these states has its own properties. Solids have a defined shape and volume. Liquids have a defined volume but assume the shape of the container they are placed in and gases have neither a defined shape nor volume.