Acidic solution

A solution that has a pH below 7 (neutral)

Acid alkali neutralization

Also referred to as simply neutralization reactions, when acids are mixed with alkalis in equal proportions, balancing the total pH and forming water H2O and a salt

Alkaline solution

A solution that has a pH above 7 (neutral)

Alkalis

Also known as bases, compounds that react with acids to form salts

Alkanolamines

Alkaline substances used to neutralize acids or raise the pH of many hair products

Alpha hydroxy acids

Abbreviated AHAs, acids derived mostly from milk and fruit sugars that are often used to exfoliate the skin

Ammonia

Colorless gas with a pungent odor that is composed of hydrogen and nitrogen

Anion

An ion with a negative electrical change

Atoms

The smallest components (often particles) of an element structures that make up the element and have the same properties of the element

Carcinogen

A substance that causes or is believed to cause cancer

Cation

An ion with a positive electrical charge

Chemical change

A change in the chemical composition or make up of a substance

Chemical properties

Characteristics that can be determined only by a chemical reaction and a chemical change in the substance

Chemistry

Science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of matter and how matter changes under different conditions

Combustible

Material that is capable of igniting and burning

Combustion

Rapid oxidation of a substance accompanied by the production of heat and light

Compound molecules

Also known as compounds, a chemical combination of two or more atoms of different elements in definite (fixed) proportions

Electrons

Subatomic particles with a negative charge

Elements

The simplest form of chemical matter, an element cannot be broken down into a simpler substance without a loss of identity

Elemental molecule

Molecule containing two or more atoms of the same element in definite (fixed) proportions

Emulsifier

An ingredient that brings two normal incompatible materials together and binds them into a uniform and fairly stable mixture

Emulsion

An unstable physical mixture of two or more immiscible substances (substances that normally will not stay mixed) plus a special ingredient called an emulsifier

Endothermic reaction

Chemical reaction that requires the absorption of energy or heat from an external source for the reaction to occur

Exothermic reaction

Chemical reaction that releases a significant amount of heat

Flammable

Material that is capable of igniting and burning, and easier to ignite than combustible material

Glycerin

Sweet, colorless, oily substance used as a solvent and as a moisturizer in skin and body creams

Glycolic acid

An alpha hydroxy acid used in exfoliation and to lower the pH of products

Hydrophilic

Capable of combining with or attracting water (water loving)

Immiscible

Liquids that are not capable of being mixed together to form stable solutions

Incompatible

Substances that should not be mixed or even stores near each other

Ion

An atom or molecule that carries an electrical charge

Ionization

The separation of an atom or molecule into positive and negative ion

Lipophilic

Having an affinity for or an attraction to fat and oils (oil loving)

Matter

Any substance that occupies space and has mass (weight)

Miscible

Liquids that are mutually soluble, meaning that they can be mixed together to form a stable solution

Molecule

A chemical combination of two or more atoms in definite (fixed) proportions

Mutagen

A substance that causes an increase in cellular mutations, some of which are harmful but others which have little or no effect on the bodies function, may cause cancer but not always

Neutrons

Subatomic particles with no charge

Oil in water emulsion

Abbreviated O/W emulsion, oil droplet emulsified in water

Overexposure

Prolonged, repeated or long-term exposure that can cause sensitivity

Oxidation reduction

Also known as redox, a chemical reaction and which the oxidizing agent is reduced (by losing oxygen), and the reducing agent is oxidized (by gaining oxygen)

Oxidizing agent

A substance that releases oxygen

pH

The abbreviation used for potential hydrogen, pH represents the quantity of hydrogen ions

pH scale

A measure of the acidity and alkalinity of a substance, the pH scale has a range of 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH below 7 is an acidic solution, a pH above 7 is an alkaline solution

Physical change

A change in the form or physical properties of a substance without a chemical reaction or the creation of a new substance

Physical mixture

A physical combination of matter in any proportion

Physical properties

Characteristics that can be determined without a chemical reaction and that do not cause a chemical change in the substances

Protons

Subatomic particles with a positive charge

Pure substance

A chemical combination of matter in definite (fixed) proportions

Reducing agent

A substance that adds hydrogen to a chemical compound or subtracts oxygen from the compound

Safety data sheet

Required by law for all products sold, SDSs include safety information about products compiled by the manufacturer including hazardous, ingredient, safe use and handling procedures, proper disposal guidelines and precautions to reduce the risk of accidental harm or overexposure

Silicones

Special type of oil used in hair conditioner, water resistant lubricants for the skin and nail polish dryers

Sodium hydroxide

A very strong alkali used in chemical products and cleaners, commonly known as lye

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solution

Solution

A stable, uniform mixture of two or more substances

Solvent

The substance that dissolves the solute and makes a solution

Surfactants

A contraction of surface-active agents, substances that allow oil and water to mix or emulsify

Suspensions

Unstable physical mixtures of undissolved particles in a liquid

Thioglycolic acid

A colorless liquid or white crystals with a strong unpleasant odor that is used in permanent waving solutions

Volatile alcohols

alcohols that evaporate easily

Volatile organic compounds

Abbreviated VOCs, compounds that contain carbon(organic) and evaporate very easily (volatile)

Water in oil emulsion

Abbreviated W/O emulsion, water droplets emulsified in oil