📚 Year 10 AQA Chemistry: Key Terminology Quick-Memorisation Guide | Year 10 AQA 化学：核心词汇速记指南
Mastering the specialist vocabulary of AQA GCSE Chemistry is essential for answering exam questions precisely and linking concepts across topics. This guide presents the key Year 10 terms with clear definitions in both English and Chinese, plus memorable tricks and a two-week revision plan to help you learn faster and more confidently.
掌握 AQA GCSE 化学的专业词汇对于精准答题和串联各主题概念至关重要。本指南以清晰的中英文定义呈现 Year 10 的关键术语，并配有记忆窍门和两周复习计划，帮助你更快速、更自信地学习。
In AQA exams, marks are awarded for using the correct scientific term, not for a vague everyday description. A student who writes 'the substance soaks up heat' may gain nothing, while a student who writes 'the reaction is endothermic because energy is taken in from the surroundings' gains full credit. Vocabulary is therefore not decoration on top of chemistry - it is the chemistry itself.
在 AQA 考试中，得分点在于是否使用了正确的科学术语，而不是含糊的日常描述。写 'the substance soaks up heat' 的学生可能一分不得，而写 'the reaction is endothermic because energy is taken in from the surroundings' 的学生则能拿满分。因此，词汇不是化学之外的装饰，它本身就是化学。
1. Why Specialist Vocabulary Decides Your Grade | 为什么专业词汇决定你的分数
Every AQA GCSE Chemistry paper contains questions that hinge on a single definition. Command words such as 'define', 'state' and 'name' are almost pure vocabulary tests, while 'explain' and 'evaluate' require you to build an answer out of linked terms. If a term is missing from your long-term memory, you lose the mark even when you understand the idea.
每一份 AQA GCSE 化学试卷中，都有一些题目的成败取决于一个定义。'define'、'state'、'name' 这类指令词几乎是纯粹考查词汇，而 'explain' 与 'evaluate' 则要求你用相互关联的术语组织答案。如果一个术语没有进入你的长期记忆，即使你理解这个概念，也会丢分。
There are three levels of knowing a word. Level 1 is recognition: you spot the term in a question and roughly know what it means. Level 2 is recall: you can write the definition from scratch. Level 3 is application: you can use the term correctly in an unfamiliar context, such as explaining why an ionic compound conducts electricity when molten but not when solid.
掌握一个词有三个层次。第一层是识别：你能在题目中认出这个词，大致知道它的意思。第二层是回忆：你能从零开始写出定义。第三层是应用：你能在陌生情境中正确使用这个词，例如解释为什么离子化合物在熔融态导电、在固态却不导电。
This guide is organised so that you move through all three levels for each topic. Read the English definition first, check the Chinese definition to confirm your understanding, then say the memory tip out loud. Finally, cover the definitions and try to reproduce them on paper.
本指南的编排让你对每个主题都能走完这三个层次。先读英文定义，再用中文定义确认理解，然后大声说出记忆窍门。最后遮住定义，尝试在纸上默写出来。
2. Atomic Structure: The Subatomic Particles | 原子结构：亚原子粒子
This topic builds the foundation of chemistry by exploring the atom, its subatomic particles and the organisation of elements in the periodic table. Knowing these terms helps you predict properties and reactivity.
本主题通过探索原子、亚原子粒子以及元素周期表的排布奠定化学基础。掌握这些术语有助于你预测性质和反应活性。
Atom – The smallest particle of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction. It has a central nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons arranged in shells.
原子 – 元素参与化学反应的最小粒子。中心有一个含质子和中子的原子核，核外电子分层排布。
Nucleus – The tiny, dense, positively charged centre of an atom, containing protons and neutrons. Almost all the mass of the atom is here, but it occupies only a tiny fraction of the atom's volume.
原子核 – 原子中心极小、密度极大、带正电的部分，包含质子和中子。原子的几乎全部质量集中于此，但它只占原子体积的极小一部分。
Proton – A positively charged particle found in the nucleus; the number of protons determines the element (atomic number). Memory tip: 'proton' and 'positive' both start with P.
质子 – 存在于原子核中带正电的粒子；质子数决定元素种类（原子序数）。记忆窍门：'proton'（质子）和 'positive'（正电）都以 P 开头。
Neutron – A neutral (uncharged) particle found in the nucleus. Its mass is almost the same as a proton's mass. Memory tip: 'neutron' and 'neutral' both start with N.
中子 – 存在于原子核中不带电的粒子，质量与质子几乎相同。记忆窍门：'neutron'（中子）和 'neutral'（中性）都以 N 开头。
Electron – A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus in shells. Its mass is about 1/1836 of a proton, so it is usually treated as negligible.
电子 – 带负电、在核外电子层中运动的粒子。其质量约为质子的 1/1836，通常可忽略不计。
Atomic number – The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. In a neutral atom it equals the number of electrons.
原子序数 – 原子核中的质子数。在中性原子中，它等于电子数。
Mass number – The total number of protons plus neutrons in an atom. Electrons are not counted because their mass is negligible.
质量数 – 原子中质子数与中子数之和。电子不计入，因为其质量可忽略。
Isotope – Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, and therefore different mass numbers. Isotopes have identical chemical properties but slightly different physical properties.
同位素 – 同种元素中质子数相同、中子数不同的原子，因此质量数不同。同位素的化学性质相同，物理性质略有差异。
Electron shell – A region around the nucleus where electrons are found. The first shell holds a maximum of 2 electrons, the second 8, and the third 8 in the GCSE model.
电子层 – 原子核周围电子存在的区域。在 GCSE 模型中，第一层最多容纳 2 个电子，第二层 8 个，第三层 8 个。
A useful pattern to memorise is the link between position and structure:
一个值得记住的规律是位置与结构之间的联系：
Group number = number of electrons in the outer shell
Period number = number of electron shells
Relative atomic mass (Ar) – The average mass of the atoms of an element compared with 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom, taking the abundance of isotopes into account. Memory tip: the word 'relative' warns you it is a comparison, not a mass in grams.
相对原子质量（Ar） – 元素原子的平均质量与碳-12 原子质量的 1/12 之比，需考虑各同位素的丰度。记忆窍门：'relative'（相对）一词提醒你这是一个比值，不是以克为单位的质量。
3. Elements, Compounds and Mixtures | 元素、化合物与混合物
Exam questions frequently ask you to classify a substance. The distinction rests on whether atoms are chemically joined and whether more than one element is present.
考题经常要求你对物质进行分类。区别的关键在于原子之间是否发生化学结合，以及是否含有一种以上的元素。
Element – A substance made of only one type of atom, which cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
元素 – 仅由一种原子组成的物质，无法通过化学方法分解成更简单的物质。
Compound – A substance formed when two or more elements are chemically combined in fixed proportions. The properties of a compound are different from those of its constituent elements.
化合物 – 两种或多种元素以固定比例化学结合形成的物质。化合物的性质与其组成元素的性质不同。
Mixture – Two or more substances that are not chemically combined. The components keep their own properties and can be separated by physical methods such as filtration or distillation.
混合物 – 未发生化学结合的两种或多种物质。各组分保持原有性质，可用过滤、蒸馏等物理方法分离。
Molecule – A group of atoms held together by covalent bonds. A molecule may contain atoms of the same element, such as O₂, or of different elements, such as H₂O.
分子 – 由共价键结合在一起的原子集团。分子可以含同种元素的原子（如 O₂），也可以含不同元素的原子（如 H₂O）。
| Feature | Compound | Mixture |
| Bonding | Chemical bonds | No chemical bonds |
| Composition | Fixed proportions | Any proportions |
| Separation | Chemical reaction needed | Physical method works |
| Properties | Different from elements | Same as components |
中文要点：化合物有化学键、组成固定、需化学反应才能分解；混合物无化学键、比例任意、可用物理方法分离，且各组分性质不变。
4. The Periodic Table and Group Trends | 周期表与族规律
The periodic table is arranged in order of increasing atomic number, with elements in the same group having the same number of outer-shell electrons and therefore similar chemical properties.
周期表按原子序数递增排列，同一族的元素最外层电子数相同，因此化学性质相似。
Group – A vertical column of the periodic table. Elements in a group have the same number of electrons in their outer shell.
族 – 周期表中垂直的一列。同族元素最外层电子数相同。
Period – A horizontal row of the periodic table. Elements in a period have the same number of electron shells.
周期 – 周期表中水平的一行。同周期元素电子层数相同。
Alkali metals – Group 1 metals (lithium, sodium, potassium and so on). They are soft, have low melting points compared with other metals, and react vigorously with water to produce a metal hydroxide and hydrogen.
碱金属 – 第 1 族金属（锂、钠、钾等）。质地软，熔点比其他金属低，与水剧烈反应生成金属氢氧化物和氢气。
Typical reaction: 2Na + 2H₂O → 2NaOH + H₂
典型反应：2Na + 2H₂O → 2NaOH + H₂
Halogens – Group 7 non-metals (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine). Reactivity decreases down the group because the outer shell is further from the nucleus and the attraction for an incoming electron is weaker.
卤素 – 第 7 族非金属（氟、氯、溴、碘）。自上而下反应活性减弱，因为最外层离核更远，对电子的吸引更弱。
Noble gases – Group 0 (or 8) elements with full outer shells. They are chemically unreactive and exist as single atoms.
惰性气体 – 第 0（或第 8）族元素，最外层电子已排满，化学性质不活泼，以单原子形式存在。
Reactivity series – A list of metals in order of decreasing reactivity, used to predict displacement reactions. Memory tip: 'Please Send Cats Monkeys And Zebras In Lead Cages Securely' gives potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, lead, copper, silver.
金属活动性顺序 – 按反应活性由强到弱排列的金属顺序，用于预测置换反应。记忆窍门：可用 'Please Send Cats Monkeys And Zebras In Lead Cages Securely' 记住钾、钠、钙、镁、铝、锌、铁、铅、铜、银。
5. Chemical Bonding: Ionic, Covalent and Metallic | 化学键：离子键、共价键与金属键
Bonding questions are the highest-value vocabulary questions in Year 10, because you must name the bond type and then justify a property.
化学键是 Year 10 中分值最高的词汇类考点，因为你需要先说出键的类型，再据此解释某种性质。
Ion – A charged particle formed when an atom loses or gains electrons. Metals lose electrons to form positive ions (cations); non-metals gain electrons to form negative ions (anions).
离子 – 原子失去或得到电子后形成的带电粒子。金属失电子形成正离子（阳离子），非金属得电子形成负离子（阴离子）。
Common ion charges: Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, Cl⁻, O²⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻.
常见离子电荷：Na⁺、Mg²⁺、Ca²⁺、Al³⁺、Cl⁻、O²⁻、SO₄²⁻、NO₃⁻。
Ionic bond – The strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. Ionic compounds form giant lattices, have high melting points, and conduct electricity only when molten or dissolved because the ions are then free to move.
离子键 – 带相反电荷的离子之间强烈的静电吸引。离子化合物形成巨型晶格，熔点高，只在熔融或溶解时导电，因为此时离子可以自由移动。
Covalent bond – A strong bond formed when a pair of electrons is shared between two non-metal atoms. Molecules with weak intermolecular forces have low melting points, even though the covalent bonds inside the molecule are strong.
共价键 – 两个非金属原子之间共享一对电子形成的强键。分子间作用力弱的物质熔点低，尽管分子内部的共价键很强。
Metallic bond – The attraction between positive metal ions and a sea of delocalised electrons. This explains why metals conduct electricity and heat, and why they are malleable.
金属键 – 金属正离子与离域电子海之间的吸引。这解释了金属为什么能导电导热，以及为什么具有延展性。
Giant covalent structure – A three-dimensional network of covalent bonds, as in diamond or silicon dioxide. These substances have very high melting points because many strong bonds must be broken.
巨型共价结构 – 由共价键构成的三维网络，如金刚石或二氧化硅。它们的熔点极高，因为需要断裂大量强键。
Intermolecular forces – Weak forces between molecules. They are much weaker than covalent bonds, so simple molecular substances melt and boil easily.
分子间作用力 – 分子之间的弱作用力。它们比共价键弱得多，因此简单分子物质容易熔化、沸腾。
6. Chemical Reactions, Equations and Conservation of Mass | 化学反应、方程式与质量守恒
Reaction vocabulary appears in every paper. Precise use of the words 'reactant', 'product' and 'state symbol' turns a vague answer into a full-mark answer.
反应类词汇出现在每份试卷中。准确使用 'reactant'（反应物）、'product'（生成物）和 'state symbol'（状态符号）能将含糊的答案变成满分答案。
Reactant – A substance that is used up in a chemical reaction. Reactants are written on the left of the arrow.
反应物 – 在化学反应中被消耗的物质，写在箭头左侧。
Product – A new substance formed in a chemical reaction, written on the right of the arrow.
生成物 – 化学反应中生成的新物质，写在箭头右侧。
Conservation of mass – The total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products, because atoms are not created or destroyed, only rearranged. If mass appears to change, a gas has escaped or been taken in from the air.
质量守恒 – 反应物总质量等于生成物总质量，因为原子既不会产生也不会消失，只是重新排列。如果看起来质量有变化，说明有气体逸出或被空气吸收。
Balanced symbol equation – An equation in which the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides. You may only change the large numbers in front of formulae, never the subscripts.
配平的化学方程式 – 等号两边各元素原子数相同的方程式。只能改变化学式前的大数字，绝不能改动下标。
Worked example: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O — 1 carbon, 4 hydrogen and 4 oxygen atoms on each side.
示例：CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O —— 两边各有 1 个碳、4 个氢和 4 个氧原子。
State symbols – Letters added after a formula to show the physical state: (s) solid, (l) liquid, (g) gas, (aq) aqueous, meaning dissolved in water.
状态符号 – 写在化学式后表示物质状态的字母：(s) 固体、(l) 液体、(g) 气体、(aq) 水溶液（溶于水）。
Thermal decomposition – The breakdown of a compound by heating, for example CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂.
热分解 – 化合物受热分解，例如 CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂。
Displacement reaction – A reaction in which a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive element in a compound.
置换反应 – 较活泼的元素把较不活泼的元素从化合物中置换出来的反应。
Electrolysis – The decomposition of an ionic compound using electricity. The positive electrode is the anode and the negative electrode is the cathode.
电解 – 用电流使离子化合物分解。正极称为阳极，负极称为阴极。
7. Acids, Alkalis, pH and Salts | 酸、碱、pH 与盐
Acid chemistry carries a large share of the marks at GCSE, and most of the lost marks come from confusing 'base' with 'alkali' and 'strong' with 'concentrated'.
酸碱化学在 GCSE 中占很大分值，而丢分大多源于把 'base'（碱）与 'alkali'（碱性溶液）混淆，把 'strong'（强）与 'concentrated'（浓）混淆。
Acid – A substance that produces hydrogen ions, H⁺, when dissolved in water. Acids have a pH below 7.
酸 – 溶于水时产生氢离子 H⁺ 的物质。酸的 pH 小于 7。
Base – A substance that can neutralise an acid to form a salt and water. Metal oxides, hydroxides and carbonates are bases.
碱 – 能中和酸生成盐和水的物质。金属氧化物、氢氧化物和碳酸盐都是碱。
Alkali – A base that is soluble in water, such as sodium hydroxide or ammonia. Alkalis have a pH above 7.
碱性溶液 – 可溶于水的碱，如氢氧化钠或氨。碱性溶液的 pH 大于 7。
pH scale – A scale from 0 to 14 measuring the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. pH 7 is neutral at 25 °C.
pH 标度 – 0 到 14 的范围，用来衡量溶液的酸碱性。在 25 °C 下，pH 7 为中性。
Neutralisation – an acid and a base to form a salt and water. The ionic equation is always H⁺ + OH⁻ → H₂O.
中和 – 酸与碱反应生成盐和水。其离子方程式始终为 H⁺ + OH⁻ → H₂O。
Salt – A compound formed when the hydrogen of an acid is replaced by a metal ion. Hydrochloric acid gives chlorides, sulfuric acid gives sulfates, and nitric acid gives nitrates.
盐 – 酸中的氢被金属离子取代后形成的化合物。盐酸生成氯化物，硫酸生成硫酸盐，硝酸生成硝酸盐。
Indicator – A substance that changes colour to show pH, such as litmus (red in acid, blue in alkali) or universal indicator.
指示剂 – 通过变色显示 pH 的物质，如石蕊（酸中变红，碱中变蓝）或通用指示剂。
Strong acid – An acid that is fully ionised in aqueous solution, such as hydrochloric acid. 'Strong' refers to the degree of ionisation, not to the concentration.
强酸 – 在水溶液中完全电离的酸，如盐酸。'strong'（强）指的是电离程度，不是浓度。
Neutralisation word equation: acid + metal hydroxide → salt + water
中和反应文字方程式：酸 + 金属氢氧化物 → 盐 + 水
8. Quantitative Chemistry: Moles, Mass and Concentration | 定量化学：摩尔、质量与浓度
Quantitative chemistry terrifies many Year 10 students, but the vocabulary is small and the formulas are few. Learn these and the calculations become routine.
定量化学让很多 Year 10 学生害怕，但其中词汇量很小、公式也不多。掌握以下内容后，计算就会变得程式化。
Mole – nt of substance that contains 6.02 × 10²³ particles. This number is the Avogadro constant.
摩尔 – 含有 6.02 × 10²³ 个粒子的物质的量。这个数值即阿伏加德罗常数。
Relative formula mass (Mr) – the relative atomic masses of all the atoms in a formula. For H₂O, Mr = (2 × 1) + 16 = 18.
相对式量（Mr） – 化学式中所有原子相对原子质量之和。对于 H₂O，Mr = (2 × 1) + 16 = 18。
moles = mass ÷ Mr
concentration (mol/dm³) = moles ÷ volume (dm³)
Memory tip: write the triangle 'm over n Mr' on your rough paper before you start any calculation question.
记忆窍门：做任何计算题前，先在草稿纸上画出 'm 在上、n 和 Mr 在下' 的三角形关系图。
Limiting reactant – The reactant that is used up first and therefore determines how much product can form.
限量反应物 – 最先被消耗完、因而决定生成物最大产量的反应物。
Percentage yield – The actual mass of product obtained as a percentage of the theoretical maximum.
产率 – 实际所得生成物质量占理论最大产量的百分比。
percentage yield = (actual mass ÷ theoretical mass) × 100
Atom economy – The proportion of reactant atoms that end up in the desired product. A high atom economy means less waste.
原子经济性 – 反应物原子进入目标产物的比例。原子经济性高说明废弃物少。
