pH

The pH of an aqueous solution is the reciprocal of the logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution (i.e. the negative of the logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration).


			pH   =   - log10[H(+)]  

A neutral solution has a pH of 7.0. A pH less than 7.0 indicates an acid solution, while a pH above 7.0 indicates an alkaline solution. The scale was introduced by S.P. Sorensen.


Paramagnetism

Paramagnetism in the transition elements is caused by the presence of unpaired electrons in the d sub-orbital, and results in these elements being attracted by a magnetic field.


Pauli's Exclusion Principle

The Pauli's exclusion principle
specifies that no two electrons which are in the orbitals about a nucleus of an atom may have identical Quantum Numbers.


Periodic Law

The periodic law
states that there are regularly repeating properties on going from element to element with increasing atomic number of the elements.
These properties are best summarised in the modern version of the periodic table.

The first attempt at defining a periodic law was the octet rule.


The Periodic Table

The periodic table is the structured arrangement of the elements in a chart that accentuates the relationships between the chemical properties of the different elements.

The structure of the modern version of the periodic table is explained by the electronic configuration of the elements.


Permanent Hardness

Permanent hardness in water is caused by high levels of calcium salts (e.g. calcium carbonate) and magnesium salts (e.g. magnesium carbonate) being dissolved in the water.


Peroxide Effect

The peroxide effect results in the formation of a different product from that predicted by the Markownikoff Rule when an addition reaction takes place in the presence of a peroxide. Peroxides give rise to free radicals, and a free radical mechanism for a chain reaction is believed to be responsible for the products observed.

In the presence of a peroxides (which give rise to free radicals), the Anti-Markownikoff Rule specifies the orientation with which a small asymmetric molecule adds across the double bond of an alkene, because under these conditions the reactants add across a double bond in the opposite orientation to that specifies in the Markownikoff's Rule.


                           peroxide        
                     HH H            HH H            HHH   
                    HCC=CH  ==>     HCC+CH==>       HCCCH  
                     H               H  H            HHBr        
                                                  1-Bromopropane  

These peroxides can arise from exposure of the propene, or other alkenes, to air or they can result from the addition of an organic peroxide (e.g. benzoyl peroxide) which is added deliberately to give the product of the required stereochemistry. This is called the peroxide effect and a free radical chain reaction is believed to be responsible for it.


Peroxides

Peroxides, R-O-O-R, are organic molecules which contain the peroxide linkage, -O-O-, within the molecule. Peroxides readily give rise to free radicals, because the oxygen to oxygen bond is easily broken in these organic molecules.


		R-O-O-R ==>     2  R-O* 
		Peroxide         Peroxide        
			      Free Radical    

The most important organic peroxide is benzoyl peroxide, (C6H5COO)2, which is the initiator used in the polymerisation of many industrially important polymers (e.g. fillers, etc) and adhesives (e.g. superglue, etc.).

Peroxide are also the group of inorganic compounds that contain the peroxide ion, O2(2 -).


Perspex

Perspex is a trade name for plastics made from polymethylmethacrylate.


Petrochemicals

Petrochemicals are the industrially important organic chemicals which are derived from petroleum or natural gas.


Petrol

Petrol (i.e. Gasoline) is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons containing 5 to 10 carbon atoms in each molecule.


Physical Change

A physical change is a change of state of a substance, where only the physical properties of the substance are changes and the chemical composition of the substance is unaltered.


Physical Properties

The physical properties of a substance are those permanent properties which describe the physical characteristics of the material.


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