Why Significant Figures Significant figures preserve the precision of measurements. You record data and use numerical values in calculations. Further calculations can only be as accurate as the as the measurements from an experiment. Use of a specific set of rules prevents calculation results more precise than…
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Autoionization of Water
The autoionization of water describes when water reacts with water in a solution of water. This forms the basis of understanding aqueous acid base chemistry. Do not suspect a chemical process occurs only when chemicals dissolves in water. Despite what most people believe when they look…
Acids and Bases
Acids and Bases An understanding of acids and bases forms an essential part of a total grasp of chemistry. It encompasses many of the chemical concepts you learn early in a first semester. Organic chemistry and biochemistry cannot be understood without a mastery of acids and bases.…
Chemical Equilibrium
A central idea used to predict how chemicals react to form products, is the concept of chemical equilibrium. Chemical equations show reactants with arrows transform into products. However, many reactions do not completely transform all the reactants into products. Many reactions result in a mixture of reactants…
Lewis structure
Learn how to write Lewis structure of simple molecules
Orbital Hybridization
Orbital Hybridization Orbital hybridization controls the local geometry around an atom. More than any other factor, the hybridization state of electron orbitals is responsible for the shape of molecules. Solitary atoms undergo orbital hybridization under the influence of interactions with other atoms. This allows orbitals with different energies…
Electron Configurations: First Three Rows
Electron Configurations Up To 3rd Period The electron configurations and orbital diagrams of the first three rows (periods) of the periodic table occupy an important role. The configurations form the basis of chemical behavior. Periodic Table to Electron Shells Periods and Electron Shells The…
Electron Shells and Orbitals
Electron Shells Electron shells and orbitals hold electrons in a specific pattern. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons must equal the number of protons. This makes the number of electrons equal to an element’s atomic number. The electrons reside somewhere away from the nucleus. The positive charge concentrates…
Molecular Shape
Molecular Shape Important The structure of a molecule is not complete until you know the molecular shape. Molecules which have seemingly an identical molecular shape often have very different chemical properties. The featured image above shows a flow chart you can use to deduce the electron geometry…
Polar Molecule and Nonpolar Molecule
The difference between a polar molecule and a nonpolar molecule depends on molecular geometry. Polar Bonds Polar result when two different elements share electrons and form a covalent bond. Each element has a characteristic electronegativity. A more electronegative element has a stronger attraction for electrons it shares in a…