The Basics of Chemistry (Basics of the Hard Sciences)

390 Pages·2003·3.04 MB·English

by  Richard Myers

The Basics of Chemistry
Richard Myers
GREENWOOD PRESS
The Basics of Chemistry

The Basics of Chemistry
Richard Myers
Basics of the Hard Sciences
Robert E.Krebs,Series Editor
GREENWOOD PRESS
Westport, Connecticut • London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Myers, Richard, 1951–
The Basics of chemistry / Richard Myers.
p. cm.––(Basics of the hard sciences)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0–313–31664–3 (alk. paper)
1. Chemistry. I. Title. II. Series.
QD33.2.2.M94 2003
540––dc21 2002028436
British Library Cataloging in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 2003 by Richard Myers
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2002028436
ISBN: 0–313–31664–3
First published in 2003
Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.greenwood.com
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Every reasonable effort has been made to trace the owners of copyrighted materials in this book, but in some
instances this has proven impossible. The author and publisher will be glad to receive information leading to
more complete acknowledgments in subsequent printings of the book and in the meantime extend their
apologies for any omissions.
To Chris.
For all your support and companionship during our thirty years.

Contents
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xv
Chapter 1 Introduction: Chemistry and Its Divisions 1
Introduction 1
The Scientific Enterprise 2
What Is Chemistry? 3
Divisions of Chemistry 4
Chapter 2 A Brief History of Chemistry 7
Introduction 7
Early History 7
Greek Science 9
Alchemy 11
Chemistry in the Middle Ages 13
Chapter 3 The Birth of Modern Chemistry 17
Introduction 17
The Beginnings of Modern Chemistry 17
The Phlogiston Theory 19
Pneumatic Chemistry 20
Lavoisier 25
Chapter 4 The Atom 31
Introduction 31
The Law of Definite Proportions 31
Dalton and the Birth of the Atomic Theory 33
Gay-Lussac and Avogadro’s Hypothesis 34
The Divisible Atom 35
Atomic Structure 38
viii Contents
Quantum Mechanics 40
A Modern View of the Atom 44
Atomic Mass, Atomic Numbers, and Isotopes 45
Ions 45
Summary 46
Chapter 5 Atoms Combined 49
Introduction 49
Mixtures, Compounds, and Molecules 49
Naming Elements 50
Naming Compounds 51
Writing Chemical Formulas 54
Chemical Reactions 54
Types of Reactions 55
From Molecules to Moles 56
Chapter 6 Elements and the Periodic Table 61
Introduction 61
Discovery of the Elements 61
The Modern Periodic Table 64
The Main Group Elements 64
d and f Block Elements 67
Metals, Metalloids, and Nonmetals 67
Periodic Problems 67
Summary 69
Chapter 7 Chemical Bonding 71
Introduction and History 71
Dot Formulas, the Octet Rule, and Ionic Bonds 74
Covalent Bonds 76
Electronegativity and the Polar Covalent Bond 76
Polar Molecules and Hydrogen Bonds 78
Bond Energies 79
The Metallic Bond 80
Bonding and Molecular Geometry 80
Modern Bonding Theory 82
Chapter 8 Intermolecular Forces and the Solid and Liquid States 85
Introduction 85
Characteristics of Solids, Liquids, and Gases 86
Intermolecular Forces 86
Crystalline Solids 90
Amorphous Solids 92
Liquids 93
Material Science 95
Contents ix
Chapter 9 Gases 99
Introduction 99
Pressure 99
The Gas Laws 102
The Ideal Gas Law 106
Partial Pressure and Vapor Pressure 107
Applications of the Gas Laws 109
Chapter 10 Phase Changes and Thermochemistry 113
Introduction 113
Changes of State 113
Energy and Phase Changes 113
Heating Curves 115
Calorimetry 118
Heat of Reaction 120
Applications of Heat of Reactions 122
Chapter 11 Solutions 125
Introduction 125
The Solution Process 126
Electrolytes 128
Concentration of Solutions 129
Solubility of Gases 130
Colligative Properties 131
Reactions of Solutions 134
Colloids and Suspensions 136
Chapter 12 Kinetics and Equilibrium 139
Introduction 139
Reaction Rates 139
The Collision Theory 140
Factors Affecting Reaction Rates 142
Reaction Mechanisms and Catalysis 144
Chemical Equilibrium 147
Le Châtelier’s Principle 149
The Equilibrium Constant 151
Ammonia and the Haber Process 152
Chapter 13 Acids and Bases 155
Introduction and History 155
Chemical Definitions of Acids and Bases 156
Strengths of Acids and Bases 159
Acid Concentration 160
pH and pOH 161
Neutralization Reactions 163
Buffers 166
Summary 169