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.

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solute

[noun]

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

Ex: In saltwater, salt (NaCl) is the solute that dissolves in water, the solvent.

reactant

[noun]

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

Ex: In photosynthesis, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O) are the reactants that, in the presence of sunlight, produce glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂).

catalyst

[noun]

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

Ex: Enzymes are naturally occurring biological catalysts that allow complex metabolic reactions to proceed efficiently in living cells.

catalysis

[noun]

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

Ex: Enzymatic catalysis plays a key role in biological processes, including the synthesis and breakdown of biomolecules in living organisms.

covalent bond

[noun]

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

Ex: Covalent bonds are like atoms sharing electron hugs to stick together.

isomer

[noun]

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

Ex: Propanol and isopropanol are isomers, sharing the same molecular formula but differing in the arrangement of their atoms.

polymer

[noun]

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

Ex: Polyethylene is a common polymer used in the production of plastic bags, bottles, and various packaging materials.

monomer

[noun]

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

Ex: Ethylene is a monomer that polymerizes to form polyethylene, a widely used plastic.

hydrocarbon

[noun]

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

Ex: Methane (CH₄) is the simplest hydrocarbon, belonging to the alkane group.

ester

[noun]

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

Ex: Ethyl acetate, an ester, is commonly used as a solvent in nail polish removers.

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: Acetaldehyde is an aldehyde with a fruity odor, often used in the synthesis of chemicals.

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: Ethanol is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and is commonly used as a solvent.

ketone

[noun]

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

Ex: Acetone is a common ketone widely used as a solvent and nail polish remover.

oxidation-reduction

[noun]

a chemical reaction where electrons are transferred between substances

Ex: The combustion of wood is an oxidation-reduction reaction where wood undergoes oxidation, producing carbon dioxide and water.

molarity

[noun]

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

Ex: A solution with a molarity of 0.5 M means there are 0.5 moles of solute in each liter of the solution.

electrolyte

[noun]

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

Ex: Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a common electrolyte that dissociates into sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻) in solution.

enthalpy

[noun]

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

Ex: In an exothermic reaction, the enthalpy change (ΔH) is negative, indicating a release of heat to the surroundings.

entropy

[noun]

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

Ex: When ice melts into water at a higher temperature, the entropy of the system increases.

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: Fog consists of small water droplets dispersed in the air, forming a colloid.

corrosion

[noun]

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

Ex: The pipes in the old house were heavily damaged by corrosion, resulting in leaks throughout the plumbing system.

alkali

[noun]

any water-soluble compound that can turn litmus blue and reacts with an acid to form a salt and water

Ex: Sodium hydroxide is a strong alkali commonly used in soap making.

Vocabulary for IELTS Academic (Band 8-9)
Eating and Drinking	Preparing Food	Changing and Forming	Science
Education	Astronomy	Physics	Biology
Chemistry	Geology	Philosophy	Psychology
Maths and Graphs	Geometry	Environment	Energy and Power
Landscape and Geography	Engineering	Technology	Internet

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