The study of chemistry includes words that you might not have heard before. Words like elements or protons. Understanding what basic chemistry words mean will help you enjoy studying chemistry more. Below are the most common chemistry words you’ll find:
Acid: A chemical that tastes sour and can corrode (damage or eat away) metal and other substances. Vinegar is a common acid
Atom: The smallest part of matter
Base: The opposite of an acid. A base has a bitter taste. Baking soda is a base.
Chemical properties: How matter or a compound behaves
Chemist: Someone who studies chemistry
Compound: Two or more elements combined or bound together
Electron: Part of an atom that is negatively charged and orbits the nucleus
Element: Matter that is made from only one type of atom
Matter: Anything that takes up space or has mass or weight
Neutron: Uncharged parts of an atom that are found in the nucleus
Nucleus: Group of neutrons and protons in the center of an atom
Periodic Table of Elements: A table or chart listing elements by their weight (smallest elements first)
Proton: Positively charged particles of an atom that are found in the nucleus.