CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

aerosol    →   aerosol

Aerosols are colloidal dispersions of liquid or solid particles in a gas, as in a mist or smoke. The commonly used aerosol sprays contain an inert propellant liquefied under pressure. The pressure of the gas causes the mixture to be released as a fine spray (aerosol) or foam (aerogel) when a valve is opened.

chlorofluorocarbons    →   klorofluorougljici

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) are manmade chemicals containing chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. CFCs are used for industrial purposes and in the home for refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosols and as a raw material in polystyrene production.

colloid    →   koloid

Colloids are systems in which there are two or more phases, with one (the dispersed phase) distributed in the other (the continuous phase). Moreover, at least one of the phases has small dimensions, in the range between 1 nm and 1 μm (10^-9 m – 10^-6 m). Dimension, rather than the nature of the material, is characteristic. In this size range, the surface area of the particle is large with respect to its volume so that unusual phenomena occur, e.g., the particles do not settle out of the suspension by gravity and are small enough to pass through filter membranes. Macromolecules (proteins and other high polymers) are at the lower limit of this range; the upper limit is usually taken to be the point at which the particles can be resolved in an optical microscope.

Colloidal particles may be gaseous, liquid, or solid, and occur in various types of suspensions:

Sols - dispersions of small solid particles in a liquid.

Emulsions - colloidal systems in which the dispersed and continuous phases are both liquids.

Gels - colloids in which both dispersed and continuous phases have a three-dimensional network throughout the material.

Aerosols - colloidal dispersions of liquid or solid particles in a gas.

Foams - dispersions of gases in liquids or solids.

freon    →   freon

Freon (chlorofluorocarbon, CFC) a type of compound in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms of hydrocarbon (usually an alkane) have been replaced by chlorine and fluorine atoms. Most CFC are chemically uncreative and are stable at high temperatures. They are used as aerosol propellants, refrigerants, and solvents, and in the manufacture of rigid packaging foam. CFC because of their chemical inertness, can diffuse unchanged into the upper atmosphere. Here, photochemical reactions cause them to break down and react with ozone. For his reason, their use has been discouraged.

ricin    →   ricin

Ricin is a toxin derived from the castor bean. It can be spread in aerosol or liquid form. It causes blood poisoning and leads to the collapse of the circulatory system and a slow death.