CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

metallic glass    →   metalno staklo

Certain alloys can solidify by extremely rapid cooling out of melt without formation of a crystal lattice, that is in the amorphous form - such, amorphous alloys are so called metallic glasses. The alloy of zirconium, beryllium, titanium, copper, and nickel is one of the first metallic glasses that can be made in bulk and formed into strong, hard, useful objects.

Unlike pure metals and most metal alloys, metallic glasses have no regular crystalline structure. This lack of long range order or microstructure is related to such desirable features as strength and low damping which is one reason why the premier use for zirconium-based metallic glass is in the manufacture of expensive golf club heads. Metallic glasses can be quite strong yet highly elastic, and they can also be quite tough (resistant to fracture). Even more interesting are the thermal properties; for instance, just like an oxide glass, there is a temperature (called the glass transition temperature) above which a metallic glass becomes quite soft and flows easily. This means that there are lots of opportunities for easily forming metallic glasses into complex shapes.

potential energy    →   potencijalna energija

Potential energy (E_p) is the energy stored in a body or system as a consequence of its position, shape, or state (this includes gravitation energy, electrical energy, nuclear energy, and chemical energy). Gravitational potential energy is the energy associated with the state of separation between bodies that attracts each other via gravitational force. Elastic potential energy is the energy associated with the state of compression or extension of an elastic object. Thermal energy is associated with the random motions of atoms and molecules in a body.

proline    →   prolin

Proline has an aliphatic side chain with a distinctive cyclic structure. It is unusual because it is conformationally restricted. The secondary amino (imino) group of proline residues is held in a rigid conformation that reduces the structural flexibility of polypeptide regions containing proline. It is not an essential amino acid, which means that the human body can synthesize it.

• Abbreviations: Pro, P
• IUPAC name: pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid
• Molecular formula: C₅H₉NO₂
• Molecular weight: 115.13 g/mol

Newton’s gravitational law    →   Newtonov zakon gravitacije

Every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force (gravitational force F_G) directed along the line through centres of the two objects that is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

m₁ and m₂ are masses of the two objects and r is the distance between them. G is universal constant of gravitation, which equals 6.67•10^-26 N m² kg^-2. Strictly speaking, this law applies only to objects that can be considered pointlike object. Otherwise, the force has to be found by integrating the forces between various mass elements.

It is more properly to express Newton’s gravitational law by vector equation:

in which r₁ and r₂ are position vectors of masses m₁ and m₂.

Gravitational forces act on distance. Newton’s gravitational law is derived from Kepler’s law for planetary motion, using a physical assumption considering Sun as the centre and the source of gravitational force.

Additionally, every object moves in the direction of the force acting on it, with acceleration that is inversely proportional to the mass of object. For bodies on the surface of Earth, the distance r in gravitational law formula is practically equal to the Earth radius, R_E. If the mass of the body on Earth surface is m and the mass of earth is M_E, the gravitational force acting on that body can be expressed as:

where g is gravitational acceleration which is, although dependent on geographical latitude, usually considered as constant equal to 9.81 m s^-2.

rotational inertia    →   moment tromosti

Rotational inertia of a body is defined as

for a system of discrete particles (each of mass m_i), and as

for a body with continuously distributed mass (dm is the mass element). r_i and r represent the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to the mass element of the body.

SI unit for rotational inertia is kg m².

sacrificial protection    →   zaštita žrtvovanom elektrodom

Sacrificial protection is the protection of iron or steel against corrosion by using a more reactive metal. Pieces of zinc or magnesium alloy are attached to pump bodies and pipes. The protected metal becomes the cathode and does not corrode. The anode corrodes, thereby providing the desired sacrificial protection. These items are known as sacrificial anodes and "attract" the corrosion to them rather than the iron/steel. The sacrificial anodes must be replaced periodically as they corrode.

The iron pipe will be connected to a more reactive metal such as magnesium through cooper wires, the magnesium will donate its electrons to the iron preventing it from rusting. Iron which is oxidises will immediately be reduced back to iron.

serine    →   serin

Serine is neutral amino acids with polar side chains. It is one of two hydroxyl amino acids. Both are commonly considered to by hydrophilic due to the hydrogen bonding capacity of the hydroxyl group. Serine often serves as a nucleophile in many enzyme active sites, and is best known for its role in the serine proteases. Serine is a site of phosphorylation and glycosylation which is important for enzyme regulation and cell signaling. It is not essential to the human diet, since it is synthesized in the body from other metabolites, including glycine.

• Abbreviations: Ser, S
• IUPAC name: 2-amino-3-hydroxypropanoic acid
• Molecular formula: C₃H₇NO₃
• Molecular weight: 105.09 g/mol

solid state    →   čvrsto agregatno stanje

Solid state is characterised by a constant shape and volume. Particles are placed very close to one another and have efect one on another with great attraction forces. Solid bodies do not assume the shape of the container in which they are put.

tyrosine    →   tirozin

Tyrosine is hydrophobic amino acids with aromatic side chain. Tyrosine is large aromatic residue that is normally found buried in the interior of a protein and is important for protein stability. Tyrosine has special properties since its hydroxyl side chain may function as a powerful nucleophile in an enzyme active site (when ionized) and is a common site for phosphorylation in cell signaling cascades. Tyrosine absorbs ultraviolet radiation and contributes to the absorbance spectra of proteins. It is not essential (or semi-essential) to the human diet, since it is synthesized in the body from other metabolites.

• Abbreviations: Tyr, Y
• IUPAC name: 2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid
• Molecular formula: C₉H₁₁NO₃
• Molecular weight: 181.19 g/mol

valine    →   valin

Valine is hydrophobic amino acids with aliphatic side chain. It is a member of the branched-chain amino acid family, along with leucine and isoleucine. Valine differs from threonine by replacement of the hydroxyl group with a methyl substituent, but they are of roughly the same shape and volume. The nonpolar hydrophobic amino acids tend to cluster together within proteins, stabilizing protein structure by means of hydrophobic interactions. Valine is an essential amino acid, which means that it cannot be synthesized in the body and must be obtained through dietary sources.

• Abbreviations: Val, V
• IUPAC name: 2-amino-3-methylbutanoic acid
• Molecular formula: C₅H₁₁NO₂
• Molecular weight: 117.15 g/mol