CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

chromatography    →   kromatografija

Chromatography is a method of separation of the components of a sample in which the components are distributed between two phases, one of which is stationary while the other moves. In gas chromatography, the gas moves over a liquid or solid stationary phase. In liquid chromatography, the liquid mixture moves through another liquid, a solid, or a gel. The mechanism of separation of components may be adsorption, differential solubility, ion-exchange, permeation, or other mechanisms.

Clapeyron equation    →   Clapeyronova jednadžba

Clapeyron equation (also called the Clausius-Clapeyron equation) is a relation between pressure and temperature of two phases of a pure substance that are in equilibrium,

where Δ_trsS is the difference in entropy between the phases and Δ_trsV the corresponding difference in volume.

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.

gel    →   gel

Gels are colloids in which both dispersed and continuous phases have a three-dimensional network throughout the material, so that it forms a jelly-like mass (e.g. gelatine). One component may sometimes be removed to leave a rigid gel (e.g. heating silica gel).

heterogenic reaction    →   heterogena reakcija

Heterogenic reactions are those reactions which take place in different phases (in different aggregate states).

homogenic reaction    →   homogena reakcija

Homogenic reactions are those reactions in which products and reactants are in the same phase (aggregate state).

ice    →   led

Ice is a solid form of water. Water expands when it freezes due to hydrogen bonds thus making ice less density than water so it floats on it.

column chromatography    →   kromatografija u koloni

Column chromatography is generally used as a purification technique: it isolates desired compounds from a mixture. In column chromatography, the stationary phase, a solid adsorbent, is placed in a vertical column. The mobile phase, a liquid, is added to the top and flows down through the column by either gravity or external pressure. The mobile phase can be a gas or a liquid which gives rise to the two basic forms of chromatography, namely, gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC).

critical point    →   kritična točka

In general, critical point is the point on the phase diagram of a two-phase system at which the two coexisting phases have identical properties and therefore represent a single phase. At the liquid-gas critical point of a pure substance, the distinction between liquid and gas vanishes, and the vapour pressure curve ends. The coordinates of this point are called the critical temperature and critical pressure. Above the critical temperature it is not possible to liquefy the substance.

critical pressure    →   kritični tlak

Critical pressure is the pressure of a fluid in its critical point; i.e. when it is at its critical temperature and critical volume.