Nalukh chem blog

Chemistry handbook, tables, and simulator guides

Short answers to school chemistry questions, ready-to-use tables, and experiments you can try yourself.

Tables and reference

Choosing an app

Simulator guides: Atoms & bonding

Atomic interactions

Attraction and repulsion between atoms, the potential energy curve, σ and ε, and a simulator guide.

4 min read
Static electricity

How rubbing moves electrons, why a charged balloon attracts a neutral wall, and a simulator guide.

3 min read
Atomic structure

The three particles of an atom, mass number, charge, ions, valence electrons, and a guide to building an atom.

3 min read
Molecular structure

Molecules vs. ionic compounds, bond length and energy, and a guide to building 32 compounds.

3 min read
Isotopes and atomic mass

The definition of an isotope, mass number, natural abundance, and an average atomic mass problem.

3 min read
Molecule polarity

Electronegativity differences, δ+ and δ− charges, dipoles, and polar and nonpolar bonds.

3 min read
Coulomb's law

The Coulomb's law formula, a worked example, the link to ionic bonds, and a simulator guide.

3 min read
Atomic nucleus

Nuclear stability, the chart of nuclides, β⁻ and β⁺ decay, and a guide to building a nucleus.

3 min read
Molecules and light

How light affects molecules, greenhouse gases, the ozone layer, and a simulator guide.

3 min read
Rutherford's experiment

The gold foil experiment, observations and conclusions, alpha particle deflection, and a simulator guide.

3 min read
VSEPR theory

Electron geometry for 2–6 domains, a molecular shape chart, and how to count lone pairs.

4 min read
Molecule shapes: Basics

Count bonds and lone pairs to recognize linear, tetrahedral, pyramidal, and bent shapes.

4 min read
Electron configuration

How to use three rules to write 1s²2s²… notation for the first 20 elements.

3 min read
Periods and groups

How to find shells and outer electrons from the period and group, with the first 20 elements as examples.

3 min read
Periodic trends

The direction of radius, ionization, electronegativity, and metallic character, with reasons and exceptions.

3 min read
History of atomic models

The key idea of each of the four models, the discoveries that changed them, and each model's flaw.

3 min read
Ionic bonding

See how a metal gives up electrons and how oppositely charged ions attract, with 20 compounds.

3 min read
Metallic bonding

How positive ions and free electrons explain why metals conduct electricity and are malleable.

3 min read
Crystal lattices

Compare the particles, bonds, and properties of the four lattice types with 11 examples.

3 min read
Types of chemical bonds

Tell four types of bonds apart by electron distribution and electronegativity difference.

3 min read
Molecular models

How the two models differ, single, double, and triple bonds, and the shapes and angles of 20 compounds.

3 min read
Lewis dot structures

Dot placement rules, the eight-group pattern, and a simulator for the first 30 elements.

3 min read

Simulator guides: Matter, states & mixtures

Density

The density formula, the densities of eight materials, and when objects float or sink.

3 min read
Diffusion of two gases

How two gases mix, counting the particles on each side, and the effect of temperature.

3 min read
Melting and boiling points

Melting and boiling points of four substances, kelvins and °C, and the attraction between particles.

3 min read
Properties of gases

How pressure forms, the three factors that affect it, and a simulator guide.

3 min read
Gas laws

Formulas for the three laws, example problems, and P–V and P–T graphs.

3 min read
Phase diagram

How to read a phase diagram, the triple point, sublimation, and liquefying a gas with pressure.

3 min read
What is matter?

The difference between a substance and an object, plus atoms, molecules, ions, and a zoomed-in view of particles.

3 min read
Three states of matter

A table of the differences between solids, liquids, and gases, with particle arrangement and motion.

3 min read
Phase changes

Melting, boiling, condensation, sublimation, particle motion, and a simulator guide.

3 min read
What is diffusion?

The definition of diffusion, why it happens, everyday examples, and a simulator guide.

3 min read
Rate of diffusion

How temperature, state, particle mass, and concentration difference affect diffusion, with a simulator guide.

3 min read
Gas pressure

What causes pressure, the Boyle's law formula, a worked example, and a simulator guide.

3 min read
Gas collection methods

How to choose a method by density and solubility, a chart of seven gases, and a simulator guide.

3 min read
What is a mixture?

The two types of mixtures, how they differ from compounds, and the iron and sulfur example.

3 min read
Pure substances and mixtures

The definition of a pure substance, how to test with melting point, and common mistakes.

3 min read
Separating mixtures

The differences between filtration, evaporation, and distillation, the equipment, and a selection table.

3 min read
Physical and chemical changes

How to tell them apart by whether a new substance forms, four signs of chemical change, and examples.

3 min read
Properties of materials

Hardness, electrical conductivity, flexibility, magnetism, and examples of choosing a material.

3 min read
Electrical conductivity test

Test six materials in a bulb circuit and learn why metals conduct electricity.

3 min read
Chemical elements

One kind of atom, atomic number, element symbols, and how to tell an element from a compound.

3 min read
Purity curve

How to tell pure substances from mixtures by flat and sloped curves.

4 min read
Paper chromatography

Separating dyes into spots, calculating Rf, and telling pure substances from mixtures.

3 min read
Diffusion

How substances spread on their own, what affects the rate, and tests with 10 substances.

4 min read

Simulator guides: Solutions, acids & bases

Simulator guides: Chemical reactions

Flame test

Flame colors of seven metal ions, test steps, and a simulator guide.

3 min read
Ion identification

Cation and anion identification charts and a lab guide with ten unknown samples.

3 min read
Naming compounds

Rules for naming oxides, acids, bases, and salts, how to read formulas, and a lab with a test.

3 min read
Organic reaction mechanisms

Follow substitution, addition, and elimination, Markovnikov's rule, and carbocations step by step.

3 min read
Balancing equations

Balance the burning of methane step by step, then practice on 20 reactions.

3 min read
Limiting reactant

Work out products and leftovers, from a sandwich recipe to real reactions.

3 min read
Writing chemical formulas

Rules for writing a compound's formula from its cation and anion, with examples and common mistakes.

3 min read
Types of chemical reactions

Synthesis, decomposition, single and double replacement reactions, signs of a reaction, and the activity series.

3 min read
Electron transfer

Oxidation, reduction, and oxidation state changes in 20 compounds.

3 min read
Forms of energy

Forms of energy, heat transfer, heat capacity, and final temperature.

3 min read
Reaction rate

The effects of temperature, concentration, surface area, catalysts, and inhibitors.

3 min read
Chemical equilibrium

Reversible reactions, dynamic equilibrium, and Le Chatelier's principle.

3 min read
Galvanic cell

The anode, cathode, electron flow, and salt bridge of the zinc–copper cell.

3 min read
Alkanes and hydrocarbons

Methane to hexane: names, formulas, boiling points, and the homologous series.

2 min read
Functional groups

−OH, −COOH, −NH₂, and −Cl groups, and alcohols, carboxylic acids, amines, and haloalkanes.

2 min read
Balancing equations practice

40 reactions in five categories, an answer table, and a way to check yourself.

3 min read
Single replacement and the activity series

The activity series of metals and halogens, the hydrogen line rule, and simulator steps.

3 min read
Finding oxidation states

A table of rules, step-by-step solutions, and a simulator with 20 compounds to practice.

3 min read
Balancing redox reactions

Oxidizing and reducing agents, electron balance steps, and 20 reactions at 3 levels.

4 min read
Water pollution and sorting trash

Why trash floats or sinks, 4 sorting categories, simulator steps, and tasks.

3 min read
Acid rain

Reactions of SO₂ and NO₂, rain pH, sources and solutions, and simulator steps.

3 min read
Air pollution and AQI

Pollutants, an AQI table, four sources and solutions, and simulator steps.

2 min read
Pollution and eutrophication

Four pollutants, the stages of eutrophication, solutions, and simulator steps.

2 min read
Precipitation reactions

Solubility rules, precipitate colors, ionic equations, and filtering and drying steps.

3 min read
Industrial processes

The Haber process, the contact process, yield versus rate, and 8 industrial processes.

3 min read
Organic nomenclature

Naming steps, class suffixes, isomers, and a simulator with 140 compounds.

3 min read
Tests for water and gases

A table of six tests, the reasons behind them, common mix-ups, and simulator steps.

3 min read

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