Are Chemical Terms Well Defined? Chemistry is an exact science. Right? We use carefully defined terms. Right? Well, I'm not sure. While doing some work on concept analysis, it was found that many common terms bad different meanings to those working on the project. We wonder how widespread such differences are and invite you t o help by photocopying this page, completing the 5-minute survey, and returning your response t o the author. (Better still, have your class answer and send the composite results.) Please check the label that describes you best. C h e m i s t teaching in a university or 4 year college C h e m i s t teaching in a 2 year college C h e m i s t teaching in a secondary school C h e m i s t in a non-teaching position G r a d u a t e student in chemistry U n d e r g r a d u a t e student in chemistry The equations written below represent various chemical processes. Some of these would be described as ionization, some would be described as dissociation, and others would be described by other terms. Please place an "I" in the blank if you woulddescribe the processas ionization. Place a "D"in the blank if you would describe the process as dissociation. If the process is neither ionization nor dissociation, write in the term (if there is one) which describes the process. (1) Ndg) Nat(g) l e (2) CNg) l e c CI-(g) (3) FeZ+(g) Feat(g) le(4) FYg) F(g) + le-
- -+ -- +
+
( 5 ) HCl(g)
-
Ht(aq)
+ Cl-(aq)
lH10)
P u r d u e University West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
758 / Journal of Chemical Education
J. Dudley Herron
