English for chemistry Hand out 1.

Chemistry is a branch of science dealing with the structure, composition, properties, and characteristics of substances, especially at the atomic and molecular levels. 2. The branches of natural science are chemistry, physics, biology, geology, and astronomy. 3. Scientific method is one of natural science characteristics. 4. Chemistry has a great role in human life. 5. The steps of scientific method are as fallows : a. Identifying problem b. Collecting some facts c. Making a hypothesis d. Testing the hypothesis e. Making a conclusion f. Making a problem solving strategy 6. Some facts of natural phenomena which are uniform, simple, and general are called natural law. 7. A hypothesis the correctness of which has been tested by an experiment or observation can be reffered to as a theory. 8. Chemical laboratory is needed to practice scientific method in chemistry by experimental learning. 9. In doing laboratory activity, we much notice work safety principles. 10. Acid is a compound which is usually water-soluble and can produce hydrogen ions when in solution. 11. Characteristics of acid among others are it is corrosive, it can react with metals to produce hydrogen gas, it has sour taste, and it can change the color of other substances. 12. Some substances in everyday life containing acid among others, are vinegar, milk, fruits, and so on. 13. Acids contained in our bodies among others are hydrochloric acid (in our stomach), phosphoric acid and carbonic acid (in our blood), amino acid (constituent of protein), and fatty acid (in our fat). 14. Base is a substance that releases hydroxide ions (OH) when it is dissolved in water. 15. Characteristics of base among others are it has bitter taste and can change the color of other substances. 16. Some substances in everyday life containing base are among others some kind of fertilizers, soap, toothpaste, cleaning liquid, and medicines for heartburn.

17. Acid and base can be identified using artificial indicators, such as litmus, phenolphthalein, methyl red, and bromothymol blue. 18. Acid or base also can be identified using natural indicators, such as hibiscus flower, red cabbage, turmeric, and some other plants. 19. Acidity of a substance is represented by pH, and the value of pH of a substance can be measured using universal indicator or pH meter. 20. Salt is a compound or substance produced from acid-base neutralization reaction. 21. Matters or substances are everything having mass and occupying a space. Generally, matters can be distinguished into the substances and mixtures. 22. Pure substances consist of elements and compounds. Elements are pure substances which cannot be dissociated anymore into other simpler substances using an ordinary chemical reaction. 23. The universe, earths crust, seawater, and human body consist of various elements. 24. To facilitate and simplify the writing of elements, then in chemistry element symbols are used. The element symbols which are now used were made by Jons Jacob Berzelius. 25. The rules in writing Berzeliuss element symbols are as follows : a. Every element is symbolized using a letter adopted from the initial or the Latin name for the element. b. The element symbol is written using a capital letter. c. If there are two or more elements having the same initial name for the Latin name, they are differentiated by adding one letter relating to the Latin name for the element and it is written using a lowercase. 26. Elements in this nature can be in the form of single atoms or combination of the same kind of elements called element molecules. The element which consist of a single atom or element molecules can be written using a chemical formula. 27. Elements having similarities in chemical properties are classified into a group. Some groups of elements, among others, are halogen, alkali, alkaline earth, and noble gas elements. 28. Elements can also be classified into metallic, nonmetallic, and metalloid elements. 29. A compound is pure substance which can still be dissociated into other simpler substances (its component elements). A compound consist of a combination of some elements by constant or fixed composition (it complies with the Prousts law). 30. A chemical formula of a compound contains the information of the component elements and the number of the element atoms in the compound. 31. Chemical formulas consist of molecular formula and empirical formula. The molecular formula is a chemical formula representing the kind and the number of atoms composing the compound, while the empirical formula is a chemical formula representing the smallest ratio of the number of component atoms of the compound. 32. Compounds have different properties from each component element.

33. A mixture is a substance which consist of combination of some other substances which are different in kind with inconstant ratio. 34. Mixtures consist of heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures. The heterogeneous mixture consist if suspension and colloid, while the homogeneous one is also called solution. 35. Examples of suspension sre the mixture b etween oil and water, the river water, seawater, whitewash, and so on. 36. Examples of colloid are milk, smoke, fog, jelly, and so on. 37. Examples of solution are the mixture between sugar and water, salt and water, alcohol and water, and so on. 38. Solution consist of solution of gas in gas, gas in liquid, gas in solid, liquid in liquid, and solid in liquid.