CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

chain reaction    →   lančana reakcija

Chain reaction is a reaction done in three steps: initiation in which usually radicals are made which react with other molecules in stage of propagation and, when all reactants are spent, it ends by termination when all available radicals are completely spent.

Nuclear chain reaction refers to a process in which neutrons released in fission produce an additional fission in at least one further nucleus. Nuclear power plants operate by precisely controlling the rate at which nuclear reactions occur. On the other hand, nuclear weapons are specifically engineered to produce a reaction that is so fast and intense it cannot be controlled after it has started.

free energy    →   slobodna energija

Free energy is an energy that is actually available to do useful work. A decrease in free energy accompanies any spontaneous process. Free energy does not change for systems that are at equilibrium.

Haber, Fritz    →   Haber, Fritz

Fritz Haber (1868-1934) is German physical chemist, winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1918) for his development of a method of synthesizing ammonia. With Carl Bosch, he invented a process for the large-scale production of ammonia for use in nitrogen fertilizer.

hardening    →   stvrdnjavanje

Hardening is the process of becoming hard or solid by cooling, or drying, or crystallization. For example, the hardening of concrete.

Helmholz free energy    →   Helmholzova slobodna energija

Helmholz free energy (A) is a thermodynamic function defined by A = U - TS, where U is the internal energy, S the entropy, and T the thermodynamic temperature. For a reversible isothermal process ΔA represents the useful work available.

ion exchange    →   ionska izmjena

Ion exchange is a process involving the adsorption of one or several ionic species accompanied by the simultaneous desorption (displacement) of one or more other ionic species.

chemical change    →   kemijska promjena

Chemical change is a process which results in the production of one or more new materials. The system within which the process takes place is called a chemical system. A chemical change is also known as a chemical reaction, where one substance is converted into one or more different substances. When sodium and chlorine react to produce sodium chloride, a chemical reaction has taken place.

chemical equation    →   kemijska jednadžba

Chemical equation is a way of denoting a chemical reaction using the symbol for the participating particles (atoms, molecules, ions, etc.); for example,

The single arrow is used for an irreversible reaction; double arrows are used for reversible reactions. When reactions involve different phases, it is usual to put the phase in brackets after the symbol.

The numbers a, b, c, and d, showing the relative numbers of molecules reacting, are called the stoichiometric coefficients. The convention is that stoichiometric coefficients are positive for reactants and negative for products. If the sum of the coefficients is zero, the equation is balanced.

clay triangle    →   trokut za žarenje

Clay triangle is a piece of laboratory equipment used in the process of heating substances by a Bunsen burner (e.g. to support a crucible when it’s being heated).

Mannich reaction    →   Mannichova reakcija

Mannich reaction is a process in which hydrogen atoms in organic compounds are replaced with a methyl group.