Qualitative

Information that describes color, odor, shape, or some other physical characteristic.

Quantitative

Numerical data or information

Observation

The act of gathering information

Inference

The process of reaching a conclusion based on evidence and opinion

Vapor

The gaseous state of a substance that is normally a liquid or a solid at room temperature.

Gas

The term for substances which are normally gases at room temperature.

Exothermic

A type of reaction which occurs when more energy is relased as heat or light when bonds of the product are formed 

Hydrocarbon

The simplest organic compounds containing only the elements carbon and hydrogen.

Combustion

A chemical reaction that occurs when a substance reacts with oxygen, releasing energy in the form of heat and light.

Chemical Equation

A statement using chemical formulas to describe the identities and relative amounts of the reactants and products involved in the chemical reaction.  

Balanced Chemical Equation

A chemical equation which uses coefficients to make the number of particles on the reactant side of an equation to equal the particles on the product side. 

Unbalanced chemical Equation

A chemical equation which has the formulas of the reactants and products, but not the coefficients.  Thus the number of particles on the reactant and product side may not be equal. 

Chemical reaction

The process by which the atoms of one or more substances are rearranged to form different substances.  

Reactant

The substances in a chemical reaction, which are the starting substances.  They are usually found on the left side of the written chemical equation. 

Product

The substances fromed during a chemical reaction.  They are usually found on the right side of a written chemical equation. 

Incandescence

A process which occurs when a solid substance is heated to the point where it gives off light, but does not involve a chemical change.

Complete combustion

When the elements in a fuel react completely with oxygen.  In a burning candle, this yields only water and carbon dioxide.

Incomplete combustion

When the elements in a fuel do not receive enough oxygen.  In a burning candle, this yields water and carbon or carbon monoxide. 

Conduction

The transfer of thermal energy in matter through successive collisions of molecules in solids and liquids.

Convection

The transfer of thermal energy by the movement of matter in fluids (liquids and gases) due to the expansion and decrease in density of matter as it is warmed.

Radiation

The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves.