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

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

Vocabulary for IELTS Academic (Band 8-9)
Eating and Drinking	Preparing Food	Science	Changing and Forming
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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