Chemistry Glossary
From NY Science Standards Wiki
Revision as of 21:10, 25 September 2026 by Conradrichman (talk | contribs) (Reorganize glossary: source-tagged sections (standards, exams, substances, elements, units, implied terms); add terms from the June and August 2026 exams; fix a few source links)
This glossary is strictly limited to terms originating from official NYSED materials such as standards and released test questions. Every term links to its source: a performance expectation (for example HS-PS1-5) means the term appears in that standard's text, clarification statement, assessment boundary, disciplinary core ideas or performance level descriptions; an exam cluster means the term appeared in that released question cluster, and the link opens the question. Sections: vocabulary from the standards, vocabulary from released exams, substances, ions and materials, elements, units, and terms the standards point to without naming.
Vocabulary from the standards
Terms used in the chemistry performance expectations and their supporting NYSED text. This is the core vocabulary; the science-practice and engineering words the standards use (claim, evidence, criteria, trade-off) are included because the exams use them the same way.
A
- absorption (of electromagnetic radiation)
- absorption (of energy)
- accuracy
- acid
- acid rain
- acid-base reaction
- algebraic expression
- alpha decay
- Arrhenius acid-base reaction
- atom
- atomic scale
- atomic structure
- attraction
- attractive force
B
- balancing
- base
- beta decay
- bias
- binding energy
- boiling point
- boiling point elevation
- bond
- bond breaking
- bond energy
- bond formation
- Boyle’s Law
- Bronsted-Lowry acid-base reaction
- bulk scale
C
- catalyst
- charge
- chemical change
- chemical energy
- chemical equation
- chemical property
- chemical reaction
- chemical reaction system
- chemical system
- claim
- closed system
- colligative property
- collision theory
- combined gas law
- combustion reaction
- component (of a system)
- computational model
- computer simulation
- concentration
- conceptual model
- conductivity
- conservation of atoms
- conservation of charge
- conservation of energy
- conservation of mass
- constraint
- contact force
- conversion factor
- criteria
D
E
- electric charge
- electric field
- electrical energy
- electrical force
- electrically conductive material
- electrochemical cell
- electromagnetic radiation
- electron
- electron state
- electron transfer
- element
- endothermic reaction
- energy
- energy change
- energy conservation
- energy conversion
- energy flow
- energy level
- energy transfer
- energy transformation
- equilibrium
- equilibrium constant
- evidence
- exothermic reaction
F
G
- gamma decay
- gamma rays
- gas-liquid solution
- gravitational energy
- gravitational field
- group (of the periodic table)
H
I
- ideal gas
- indicator
- inputs and outputs (of matter and energy)
- intermolecular forces
- investigation
- ion
- ionization
- ionization energy
K
L
- Le Chatelier’s Principle
- light energy
- liquid
- liquid-liquid solution
- living cell
- long-chained molecule
- low pressure
M
- macroscopic level
- macroscopic scale
- magnetic field
- main-group element
- mass
- mathematical expression
- mathematical representation
- matter
- matter flow
- melting point
- metal
- mixing
- molar quantity
- molarity
- mole
- molecular level
- molecule
N
- nature of reactants
- net ionic equation
- network solid
- neutralization
- neutralization capability
- neutron
- non-ideal gas behavior
- nuclear energy
- nuclear process
- nucleus
- number of collisions per unit time
O
- opposite polarity
- optimize
- outermost electron state
- outermost energy level
- oxidation
- oxidation half-reaction
- oxidation-reduction reaction
P
- particle
- particle collision
- particle orientation
- particle size
- particulate-level structure
- parts per million (ppm)
- percent by mass
- period (of the periodic table)
- periodic table
- pH
- phenomenon
- photoelectric effect
- photon
- photosynthesis
- physical change
- physical property
- polarity
- positron decay
- potential energy
- power
- precision
- pressure
- product
- properties
- proportional relationship
- proton
Q
R
- radiation
- radioactive decay
- rate of reaction
- reactant
- reaction
- reaction with oxygen
- reactivity
- real gas
- rearrangement of particles
- reasoning
- receptor
- reduction
- reduction half-reaction
- relative property
- release of energy
- reliability
- repulsion
- repulsive force
- reverse reaction
S
- scale of energy
- solid
- solid-liquid solution
- solution
- solvation
- stable molecule
- standard temperature and pressure (STP)
- stored energy
- structure and function
- subatomic particle
- substance
- surface area
- surface tension
- system
T
- temperature
- thermal energy
- titration
- total bond energy
- trade-off
- transformation
- trend
- trends in the periodic table
U
V
W
X
Vocabulary from released exams
Terms that do not appear in the standards' text but have appeared in a released Regents question cluster. The exam is noted after each term; the link opens the question.
A
- acid-base indicator – Aug 2026
- acidic – June 2026
- alloy – Aug 2026
- alpha particle – Aug 2026
- anode – Sample 2025
- aqueous (aq) – Aug 2026
- atomic mass – Aug 2026
- atomic radius – Aug 2026
B
- balanced equation – Aug 2026
- band gap energy – Aug 2026
- beta particle – June 2026
- bioplastic – June 2026
C
- cathode – June 2026
- chemical formula – Aug 2026
- climate change – Aug 2026
- clock reaction – June 2026
- coefficient – June 2026
- complete combustion – Aug 2026
- compound – Aug 2026
- condensation – Aug 2026
- conduction band – Aug 2026
- conductor – Sample 2025
- conservation of matter – Aug 2026
- contaminant – June 2026
- corrosion – Aug 2026
- covalent bond – Sample 2025
- cross-linking – June 2026
- crystal – Aug 2026
- crystal lattice – Aug 2026
D
- decay series – Aug 2026
- decomposition – Aug 2026
- density – Aug 2026
- dilute – Aug 2026
- dissociation – June 2026
- dissolve – Aug 2026
- double bond – Sample 2025
- ductility – June 2026
E
- effective collision – Aug 2026
- electrical conductivity – Aug 2026
- electrode – June 2026
- electrolysis – June 2026
- electrolyte – June 2026
- electrolytic cell – June 2026
- electromagnetic energy – Sample 2025
- emission spectrum – Aug 2026
- enzyme – June 2026
- equilibrium shift – Aug 2026
- evaporation – Aug 2026
- excited state – June 2026
F
- first ionization energy – Aug 2026
- forward reaction – June 2026
G
- gas – Sample 2025
- global warming – Sample 2025
- global warming potential (GWP) – Sample 2025
- greenhouse effect – Sample 2025
- greenhouse gas – Sample 2025
- ground state – June 2026
H
- Hall-Heroult process – June 2026
- heat of solution (ΔH) – Aug 2026
- heat transfer – Aug 2026
- hydrocarbon – Aug 2026
- hydrogen ion – Sample 2025
- hydrogen ion acceptor – June 2026
- hydrogen ion donor – June 2026
- hydronium ion – Sample 2025
- hydroxide ion – Aug 2026
I
- infrared radiation – Aug 2026
- inorganic – Aug 2026
- insoluble – Aug 2026
- insulation – Aug 2026
- insulator – Sample 2025
- isotope – June 2026
- isotopic notation – Aug 2026
L
- Lewis electron-dot diagram – June 2026
- lithium ion battery – Sample 2025
M
- malleability – Aug 2026
- mass number – Aug 2026
- mixture – Aug 2026
- mobile electrons – June 2026
- molar concentration – Aug 2026
- molar mass – June 2026
- molecular formula – Aug 2026
- monomer – June 2026
N
- n-type and p-type semiconductors – Aug 2026
- nonpolar covalent bond – Sample 2025
- nonpolar molecule – June 2026
- nuclear decay – Aug 2026
- nuclear transformation – June 2026
O
- organic – Aug 2026
- outermost electrons – Aug 2026
- overall reaction – Sample 2025
- oxidation number – June 2026
- oxidation state – Aug 2026
- oxide – Sample 2025
- ozone layer – Aug 2026
P
- partial charge (δ+, δ−) – June 2026
- percent composition by mass – Aug 2026
- phosphorescence – June 2026
- plasma – Aug 2026
- polar covalent bond – Sample 2025
- polar molecule – June 2026
- polymer – June 2026
- positron – June 2026
- potential energy diagram – Aug 2026
- precipitate – Aug 2026
R
- radiative forcing – Sample 2025
- radioactive – June 2026
- reflectivity – June 2026
S
- semiconductor – Aug 2026
- significant figures – June 2026
- single bond – Sample 2025
- solar radiation – Aug 2026
- solubility – June 2026
- soluble – Aug 2026
- solute – June 2026
- solvent – Aug 2026
- specific heat – June 2026
- spectral line – Aug 2026
- stratosphere – Aug 2026
- stress (on an equilibrium system) – June 2026
- sublimation – June 2026
- surroundings – Aug 2026
- synthesis – Aug 2026
T
- thermal conductivity – Aug 2026
- transmittance – Aug 2026
U
- UVA, UVB and UVC – Aug 2026
V
- vacuum – Aug 2026
- valence band – Aug 2026
- valence electron – June 2026
- valence shell – Aug 2026
- visible light – Aug 2026
- visible spectrum – Sample 2025
- volatile organic compound (VOC) – June 2026
- volatility – June 2026
W
- water vapor – June 2026
Substances, ions and materials
Specific chemicals, ions and materials that the standards or exam clusters name, grouped by source so teachers can see the kinds of substances NYSED writes about. An entry marked "formula only" was printed as a formula but never named in words.
From the standards
Spring 2025 sample clusters
- Smartphone Chemistry Sample Cluster: aluminosilicate glass, indium tin oxide, molten potassium salt, potassium ion, sodium ion, aluminum oxide, cobalt oxide, lithium cobalt oxide
- A Profitable Blueberry Field: alizarine yellow, bromcresol purple, bromphenol blue, congo red, methyl red, sulfate ion, ammonia (NH3, formula only), ammonium ion, ammonium sulfate, nitrate ion
- Evaluating Gas Stoves: methane, hydrazine (N2H4, formula only), silane (SiH4, formula only), carbon tetrafluoride, 1,1-difluoroethane, dinitrogen monoxide, sulfur hexafluoride, chlorophyll
August 2026 exam
- Electricity Generation in New York State: natural gas, krypton-89 and barium-144 (fission products, symbols only), thorium-231, uranium-235, actinium, protactinium and radium isotopes (symbols only)
- The Fruit Industry in New York State: fructose, glucose, sucrose, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, formula only), pectin
- The Great American Solar Eclipse: iron(II) oxide
- Semiconductors: bismuth selenide, diamond, gallium arsenide, lead telluride, silicon carbide
- Go With the Flow: borosilicate glass, polypropylene, polystyrene (Styrofoam), stainless steel, acetate ion, ammonium nitrate, carbonate ion, chloride ion, potassium nitrate, sodium acetate, sodium carbonate
- Pool Water Chemistry: calcium ion, hydrochloric acid, hypochlorite ion (ClO−, formula only), hypochlorous acid, magnesium ion, phosphate ion, bromocresol green, bromothymol blue, methyl orange, phenol red
- The ABCs of Ultraviolet Radiation: ozone
- Catalytic Converter in Cars: carbon monoxide, catalytic converter (device), gasoline (C8H18), nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx)
- Get a Whiff of That!: essential oils (rose, lavender, peppermint), ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
- Parade of Balloons: helium-4, urethane, vinyl, thorium-234, uranium-238
- Safe Transport of Drinking Water: lead(II) ion, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), stainless steel, calcium phosphate, lead(II) iodide, potassium iodide, lead(II) phosphate (formula only)
June 2026 exam
- How Glow Became Gloom: radium-226, radon-222, bromide ion, chloride ion, radium bromide, radium carbonate, radium chloride, radium sulfate, promethium-147, tritium
- Chemistry of Beverages: bromocresol green, indigo carmine, phenol red, thymol blue
- Equilibria in the Blood: hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, carbonic acid, carbonic anhydrase (enzyme), hydrogen carbonate ion (HCO3−, formula only)
- The Accidental Development of Breathable, Waterproof Fabric: calcium fluoride, calcium sulfate, chloroform, hydrofluoric acid, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), sulfuric acid, tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), expanded PTFE (ePTFE), nylon, polyester
- Urban Heat Islands: artificial turf, asphalt, brick, wood, concrete
- Balloon Arches: citric acid, mylar, sodium citrate (formula only), sodium hydrogen carbonate, latex
- Clock Reaction: starch, copper(II) ion, hydrogen sulfite ion, iodate ion, iodide ion, potassium iodate, sodium bisulfite, iodine (I2)
- Chip Bag: PFAS vs PLA Plastics: lactic acid, petroleum, PFAS (polyfluorinated alkyl substances), PLA (polylactic acid), PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid)
- Photosynthetic Pathways: fluorine-18, oxygen-18, aluminum sulfate, dolomite, limestone, magnesium ion, manure
- All About Aluminum: bauxite (ore), aluminum silicide (Al4Si3, formula only), aluminum ion (formula only), oxide ion (formula only)
- Indoor Air Pollution: carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ozone, radon-222, polonium-218, benzene, ethylene glycol, methanol, toluene
Elements
Elements named in the standards or exam clusters (43). The link opens the standard or question; an element that appears only as a symbol in an equation or answer choice is linked to that question too.
Units
Units used in the released exams. Parts per million and STP are listed under vocabulary from the standards.
- kelvin (K) – Aug 2026
- atmosphere (atm) – June 2026
- kilopascal (kPa) – Aug 2026
- standard pressure – Aug 2026
- millimeters of mercury (mmHg) – June 2026
- joule (J) – June 2026
- kilojoule (kJ) – Aug 2026
- electron volt (eV) – Aug 2026
- nanometer (nm) – Aug 2026
- nanograms per liter (ng/L) – June 2026
- grams per mole (g/mol) – June 2026
- joules per gram degree Celsius (J/g·°C) – June 2026
- molarity per second (M/s) – June 2026
Implied terms
These terms are not named in the standards or released exams, but the NYSED wording points to them so directly that teachers will want to use them. Each entry quotes the wording that implies it. Terms that could be argued either way are deliberately left out; in particular, hydrogen bonding and London dispersion forces are not listed because HS-PS1-3 says the emphasis is "not on naming specific intermolecular forces," and Charles’s and Gay-Lussac’s laws are not listed because HS-PS1-9 assesses "the relationships among the variables of the combined gas law, not the gas law names."
- acidic, basic and neutral solutions – HS-PS1-11: "pH values" and "neutralization"; "acidic" is used in June 2026 Chemistry of Beverages.
- activation energy – HS-PS1-5 describes it as "energy required to produce the change".
- atomic number – HS-PS1-1: the periodic table "orders elements horizontally by the number of protons in the atom's nucleus"; isotopic notation is used in Aug 2026 Electricity Generation and Parade of Balloons.
- Avogadro’s number – HS-PS1-7: "the mole as the conversion from the atomic to the macroscopic scale"; June 2026 Chemistry of Beverages asks for a number of molecules.
- electromagnetic spectrum – HS-PS4-4: "light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation" versus "ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays".
- electron configuration – HS-PS1-1: "patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms"; Smartphone Chemistry asks about the "number of occupied energy levels".
- electronegativity – the June 2026 Chip Bag rubric credits "fluorine's strong attraction for electrons"; HS-PS1-3 speaks of "electrical forces within and between atoms".
- enthalpy change (ΔH) – HS-PS1-4: "release or absorption of energy from a chemical reaction system"; Aug 2026 Go With the Flow labels heats of solution "ΔH".
- heat equation (q = mcΔT) – June 2026 Urban Heat Islands requires it (energy absorbed by a 1.95 kg brick); HS-PS3-1: "computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component".
- ionic bond – HS-PS1-1: "types of bonds formed"; only covalent bonds are named on a released exam (Evaluating Gas Stoves).
- ionizing radiation – HS-PS4-4: shorter-wavelength radiation "can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells".
- metallic bond – HS-PS2-6: "electrically conductive materials are often made of metal"; June 2026 All About Aluminum credits "mobile electrons".
- molar volume (22.4 L/mol at STP) – HS-PS1-7 PLDs: "calculate a quantity (e.g. # of particles, volume of a gas)"; Aug 2026 Electricity Generation asks for liters of gas at STP.
- mole ratio – the Smartphone Chemistry rubric multiplies by "2 moles Al2O3 / 4 moles Al".
- nuclear equation – HS-PS1-8: "models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus"; June 2026 Indoor Air Pollution: "Write an equation to model the nuclear decay process".
- pH scale – HS-PS1-11: "pH values (concentration)"; A Profitable Blueberry Field and June 2026 Photosynthetic Pathways use the factor-of-ten relationship between pH and hydronium ion concentration.
- phase change – HS-PS1-3: "melting point and boiling point"; evaporation, condensation and sublimation are named in Aug 2026 Get a Whiff of That! and June 2026 Indoor Air Pollution.
- reversible reaction – HS-PS1-6: "balance between a reaction and the reverse reaction"; the ⇌ arrow appears in June 2026 Equilibria in the Blood and A Profitable Blueberry Field.
- saturated, unsaturated and supersaturated solutions – HS-PS1-10: "degree of saturation".
- sodium chloride – HS-PS1-2: "the reaction of sodium and chlorine".
- state of matter (phase) – HS-PS1-3: "forces between particles in solids, liquids, and gases".
- stoichiometry – HS-PS1-7: "proportional relationships between masses of atoms in the reactants and the products"; worked in Smartphone Chemistry and June 2026 Balloon Arches.
- structural formula – drawn but not named in June 2026 Chip Bag Figure 1 and the June 2026 Equilibria in the Blood rubric.
- transmutation – HS-PS1-8: "changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom"; June 2026 Photosynthetic Pathways calls it a "nuclear transformation".
- voltaic cell – HS-PS1-12: "electrochemical cells"; Smartphone Chemistry models a discharging battery, while the other kind, the electrolytic cell, is named in June 2026 All About Aluminum.
Page contributors: Conrad Richman, Shirley Shameen