CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

activity    →   aktivitet

Activity (a) is a thermodynamic function used in place of concentration in equilibrium constants for reactions involving nonideal gases and solutions. For the species i activity is defined as

where a_i is the activity of the species i, c_i is its molar concentration, and f_i is a dimensionless quantity called the activity coefficient.

atomic spectroscopy    →   atomska spektroskopija

Atomic spectroscopy is an expensive analytical method which uses absorption (AAS), emission (AES) and fluorescent (AFS) characteristics of the analyte.

Bohr atom    →   Bohrov atom

Bohr atom is a model of the atom that explains emission and absorption of radiation as transitions between stationary electronic states in which the electron orbits the nucleus at a definite distance. The Bohr model violates the Heisenberg uncertainty principle since it postulates definite paths and moment for electrons as they move around the nucleus. Modern theories usually use atomic orbitals to describe the behaviour of electrons in atoms.

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.

chemical equation equalization    →   izjednačavanje kemijske jednadžbe

Chemical equation equalization is determining values of stechiometric coefficients of reactants and products in a chemical equation in a way that the number of atoms of each element is equal before and after the reaction.

D-lines    →   D-linije

D-lines are two close lines in the yellow region of the spectrum of sodium, having wavelengths 589.6 nm (D₁) and 589.0 nm (D₂). They were labeled as feature D in the solar spectrum by German optician Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787-1826). As they a prominent and easily recognized they are used as a standard in spectroscopy.

diatomaceous earth    →   dijatomejska zemlja

Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring siliceous sedimentary mineral compound from microscopic skeletal remains (frustules) of diatoms, unicellular aquatic plants of microscopic size. Their fossilized remains are called diatomite and contains approximately 3000 diatom frustules per cubic millimetre.

Diatomite is relatively inert and has a high absorptive capacity, large surface area, and low bulk density. It consists of approximately 90 % silica, and the remainder consists of compounds such as aluminum and iron oxides. The fine pores in the diatom frustules make diatomite an excellent filtering material for waters, beverages, oils, chemicals, as well as many other products.

Fick’s law    →   Fickov zakon

Fick’s law is the statement that the flux J of a diffusing substance is proportional to the concentration gradient, i.e.,

where D is called the diffusion coefficient.

Hooke’s law    →   Hookeov zakon

Hooke’s law stating that the deformation of a body is proportional to the magnitude of the deforming force, provided that the body’s elastic limit (see elasticity) is not exceeded. If the elastic limit is not reached, the body will return to its original size once the force is removed. The law was discovered by English physicist Robert Hooke in 1676.

If a body on elastic spring is displaced from its equilibrium position (i.e. if the spring is stretched or compressed), a restitution force tries to return the body back in its equilibrium position. The magnitude of that force is proportional to the displacement of the body

Where F is the restitutional (elastic) force, x is the displacement of the body and k is the spring constant, which depends on dimensions, shape and material of the spring.

Ilkovic equation    →   Ilkovičeva jednadžba

Ilkovic equation is a relation used in polarography relating the diffusion current (i_d) and the concentration of the depolarizer (c), which is the substance reduced or oxidized at the dropping mercury electrode. The Ilkovic equation has the form

Where k is a constant which includes Faraday constant, π and the density of mercury, and has been evaluated at 708 for max current and 607 for average current, D is the diffusion coefficient of the depolarizer in the medium (cm²/s), n is the number of electrons exchanged in the electrode reaction, m is the mass flow rate of Hg through the capillary (mg/sec), and t is the drop lifetime in seconds, and c is depolarizer concentration in mol/cm³.

The equation is named after the scientist who derived it, the Slovak chemist, Dionýz Ilkovič 1907-1980).