List of Scientific Instruments and Uses

• Absorptiometer - Instrument for measuring solubility of gases in liquids
• Accelerometer - Instrument for measuring acceleration or vibrations
• Acetimeter - Instrument for measuring strength of vinegar
• Acidimeter - Instrument for measuring concentration of acids
• Actinograph - Instrument used to calculate time of photographic exposure

Units

Unit: A unit of measurement is a definite magnitude of a physical quantity, defined and adopted by convention and/or by law, that is used as a standard for measurement of the same physical quantity. Any other value of the physical quantity can be expressed as a simple multiple of the unit of measurement.

Chemistry Fun and Facts

• The only elements that are liquid at room temperature are bromine and mercury.
• Water expands as it freezes. An ice cube takes up about 9% more volume than the water used to make it.
• If you pour a handful of salt into a full glass of water, the water level will actually go down rather than overflowing the glass.

Non Metal

In modern periodic table there are 24 non metal elements. These are electronegative elements and bad conductor of heat and electricity. Here are some of the commonly occurring non metals and their properties-

Metallurgy

What is Metallurgy?

The process of extracting metals from ores is called metallurgy.

Ores - An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable elements.

Fuels

Fuel is a substance that can supply energy alone or upon reaction with some other substance. Fuel when provide energy also produced heat which is measured in Calories. An ideal fuel should posses the following properties –

Carbon and Its Compounds

Carbon is a non metal, its atomic number is 6 and mass number 12. It is placed in Group 14 or IV A of Periodic Table.

Allotropy- The substances which shows similar chemical characteristics but different physical characteristics are called allotropes and this property of material is called allotropy. Carbon has three allotropes – Charcoal, Graphite and Diamond

Electrolysis

Electrolytes- Electrolytes are the materials which allow electric current to pass through them when in molten state and goes for chemical decomposition. For example; acids, bases, and salts.

Behavior of Gases

Boyle’s Law: Boyle's lawstates that the absolute pressure and volume of a given mass of confined gas are inversely proportional, if the temperature remains unchanged within a closed system.

Mathematically, V ∝ 1/p; when temperature T is constant
Or V = K./p
Thus PV = K where K is constant
P1V1 = P1V1

Acids, Bases and Salts

Acid – An acid is a chemical material which exhibits following properties –

Sour in taste; when sprinkled on a blue litmus paper, turns it red; contains replaceable hydrogen; gives out hydrogen ion H+ in Aqueous Solution according to Arrhenius Theorem; can donate a proton According to Bronsted Lowry concept and can accept electrons according to Lewis Concept

Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidation and Reduction - The earliest view of oxidation and reduction is that of adding oxygen to form an oxide (oxidation) or removing oxygen (reduction). They always occur together. For example, in the burning of hydrogen the hydrogen is oxidized and the oxygen is reduced. The combination of nitrogen and oxygen which occurs at high temperatures follows the same pattern.

Chemical Bonding

What is a Chemical Bond?

A chemical bond is an attraction between atoms that allows the formation of chemical substances that contain two or more atoms. The bond is caused by the electrostatic force of attraction between opposite charges, either between electrons and nuclei, or as the result of a dipole attraction.

Periodic Classification of Elements

• In periodic table Elements are classified on the basis of similarities in their properties.
• Döbereiner grouped the elements into triads and Newlands gave the Law of Octaves.
• Mendeléev arranged the elements in increasing order of their atomic masses and according to their chemical properties.

Atomic Structure

Atom - The name atom originated from the Greek Word atomos, meaning "indivisible" or uncuttable, or indivisible, something that cannot be divided further. Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter that make up everyday objects. The atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons. The atomic nucleus contains a mix of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons.

Introduction to Chemistry

Chemistry is the systematic study of composition of matter and also the chemical and physical properties related to different material objects.

Lavoisier (1743-1793), a French Chemist is regarded as the Father of Modern Chemistry.

The Difference between living and non living

The word ‘living’ can not be defined in a single word or phrases. However, we can distinguish between livings from non living on the basis of following characteristics-

Growth- As time passes living shows growth as number of cells increases and results in increase in mass.

Reproduction- Living organisms produce other living organisms similar in physical characters and traits.

Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder of brain, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classified as point source or nonpoint source pollution.

Genetics and Genetics Terminology

•    Genetics is the science of hereditary and variations in living organisms.
•    Gregor John Mendel is known as the Father of Genetics.
•    His findings of Genetics are called Mendel’s Law.
•    Mendel summarized his findings in two laws: the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment.

Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms. This transformation can be carried out by both biological and non-biological processes. Important processes in the nitrogen cycle include fixation, mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification. The majority of Earth's atmosphere (approximately 78%) is nitrogen, making it the largest pool of nitrogen. A 2011 study found that nitrogen from rocks may also be a significant source of nitrogen.

Ecology

Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount (biomass), number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems.