Vocabulary for IELTS Academic (Band 8-9) - Chemistry

Here, you will learn some English words related to Chemistry that are necessary for the Academic IELTS exam.

Review

Flashcards

Spelling

Quiz

Start learning

solute

[noun]

a substance that is dissolved in a solvent, resulting in a solution

Ex: Dissolving a pain reliever ( e.g. , aspirin ) in water results in the drug acting as the solute in the liquid solvent .

reactant

[noun]

a substance that takes part in and undergoes a chemical reaction, leading to the formation of new products

Ex: When iron reacts with sulfur , the reactants are iron and sulfur .

catalyst

[noun]

(chemistry) a substance that causes a chemical reaction to happen at a faster rate without undergoing any chemical change itself

Ex: In the Haber process , iron is used as a catalyst to promote the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen gases .

catalysis

[noun]

the acceleration or facilitation of a chemical reaction by a substance (catalyst) that remains unchanged at the end of the reaction

Ex: Zeolites act as catalysts in refining processes , promoting the catalysis of hydrocarbons into valuable products .

covalent bond

[noun]

a chemical bond where atoms share electrons to form a stable molecule

Ex: The air 's like a molecular community , held together by covalent bonds, forming a breathable atmosphere .

isomer

[noun]

any of two or more compounds having the same molecular formula but different arrangements of atoms and, consequently, different properties

Ex: The amino acid isoleucine and the sugar maltose are examples of isomers with identical molecular formulas but differing chemical structures .

polymer

[noun]

a large molecule composed of repeating structural units, or monomers, covalently bonded together in a chain-like structure

Ex: Polyester is a versatile synthetic polymer used in fabrics , clothing , and plastic bottles .

monomer

[noun]

a molecule that can chemically bond with other molecules to form a polymer

Ex: Styrene is a monomer used in the production of polystyrene , a common plastic and insulation material .

hydrocarbon

[noun]

a compound composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms, with the simplest form being alkanes, alkenes, or alkynes

Ex: Benzene (C₆H₆) is an aromatic hydrocarbon, exhibiting a ring structure with alternating single and double bonds.

ester

[noun]

a chemical compound derived from the reaction between an alcohol and an organic acid, typically with the elimination of water

Ex: Ethyl propionate is an ester with a fruity odor and is used as a flavoring agent in the food industry .

aldehyde

[noun]

an organic compound with a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to a hydrogen atom and another carbon atom, commonly found in essential oils and used in various chemical processes

Ex: Formaldehyde is a simple aldehyde used in various industrial applications , including the production of resins .

alcohol

[noun]

a compound with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbon atom, widely used as solvents, fuels, and in pharmaceutical and chemical synthesis

Ex: Benzyl alcohol is used in the production of fragrances , flavorings , and as a solvent in various applications .

ketone

[noun]

an organic compound with a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two carbon atoms, commonly found in solvents, pharmaceuticals, and flavorings

Ex: Camphor is a ketone found in various plant sources and used in medicinal and flavoring applications .

oxidation-reduction

[noun]

a chemical reaction where electrons are transferred between substances

Ex: Photosynthesis is a biological process that involves the oxidation-reduction of water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen .

molarity

[noun]

the concentration of a solute in a solution, measured in moles per liter (mol/L or M)

Ex: Hydrogen peroxide with a molarity of 6 M means there are 6 moles of H₂O₂ per liter .

electrolyte

[noun]

a substance that, when dissolved in a solution, produces ions and enables the conduction of electric current

Ex: Acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is a weak electrolyte, producing acetate ions (CH₃COO⁻) and hydrogen ions (H⁺) in solution.

enthalpy

[noun]

a thermodynamic quantity representing the total heat content of a system, commonly denoted as H

Ex: Enthalpy plays a role in the analysis of reaction spontaneity , where negative ΔH values often indicate spontaneous processes .

entropy

[noun]

a thermodynamic measure of the degree of disorder or randomness in a system, denoted by S

Ex: Dissolving a solute in a solvent generally increases the entropy of the system .

colloid

[noun]

a mixture where small particles of one substance are evenly dispersed in another substance, typically intermediate in size between solution and suspension particles

Ex: Blood plasma is a colloid with proteins and other substances dispersed in water .

corrosion

[noun]

the gradual destruction of materials by chemical reaction, usually of metals

Ex: Exposure to moisture accelerates metal corrosion.

alkali

[noun]

any substance with a pH of more than seven that neutralizes acids creating salt and water

Ex: Mixing an alkali with vinegar produces a salt and water .

Vocabulary for IELTS Academic (Band 8-9)

Download LanGeek app