CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

allomerism    →   alomerija

Allomerism is the appearance of substances with different chemical composition but the same crystalline form.

allomorphism    →   alomorfija

Allomorphism is the existence of chemical substances with same chemical composition in two or more crystalline forms. See Polymorphism.

alum    →   alaun

Alums are a group of isomorphic glacial double sulphates with the general formula

where M^I can be univalent cation K, Na, Rb, Cs, NH₄ or Tl, and M^III is trivalent Al, Cr, or Fe.

Avogadro constant    →   Avogadrova konstanta

Avogadro constant (N_A or L) is the number of elementary entities in one mole of a substance.

It has the value (6.022 045±0.000 031)×10²³ mol^-1.

Avogadro’s law    →   Avogadrov zakon

Avogadro’s law: Equal volumes of all gases contain equal numbers of molecules at the same pressure and temperature. The law, often called Avogadro’s hypothesis, is true only for ideal gases. It was proposed in 1811 by Italian chemist Amadeo Avogadro (1776-1856).

allotrope    →   alotrop

Allotropes are the elements which exist in two or more different forms in the same physical state. Allotropes generally differ in physical properties and may also differ in chemical activity.

Diamond, graphite and fullerenes are three allotropes of the element carbon. Graphite is a soft, black, slippery substance; by contrast, diamond is one of the hardest substances known. The different properties of the allotropes arise from their chemical structures. Diamonds typically crystallize in the cubic crystal system and consist of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms. Graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system. In the fullerenes, the carbon atoms taking the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube.

In some cases, the allotropes are stable over a temperature range, with a definite transition point at which one changes into the other. For instance, tin has two allotropes: white (metallic) tin stable above 13.2 °C and grey (nonmetallic) tin stable below 13.2 °C.

The term allotropes may also be used to refer to the molecular forms of an element. Ozone is a chemically active triatomic allotrope of the element oxygen.

allotropy    →   alotropija

Allotropy (Gr. allos, other, and tropos, manner) is the phenomenon of an element existing in two or more physical forms in the same physical state. The difference between the forms involves either crystaline structure (white, red and black phosphorus), the number of atoms in the molecule of a gas (diatomic oxygen and triatomic ozone), or the molecular structure of a liquid (liquid helium an helium II).

In some cases, the allotropes are stable over a temperature range, with a definite transition point at which one changes into the other. For instance, tin has two allotropes: white (metallic) tin stable above 13.2 °C and grey (nonmetallic) tin stable below 13.2 °C. This form allotropy is called enantiotropy. Form of allotropy, in which there is no transition temperature at which the two are in equilibrium, is called monotropy.

Allotropy does not apply to the substance existing in different physical states as, for example, when ice melts and changes from solid ice to liquid water.

Allotropy is generally restricted to describing polymorphic behaviour in elements, while polymorphism may refer to any material having multiple crystal structures.

barytes    →   barit

Barytes is an orthorhombic mineral, form barium sulphate, BaSO₄, the chief of barium. It is usually white but my also be yellow, grey or brown. Large deposits occur in Andalusia, Spain and in the USA.

basic liquid    →   matična otopina

Basic liquid is a liquid left after crystallizations.

blackbody    →   crno tijelo

In radiation physics, an ideal blackbody is a theoretical object that absorbs all the radiant energy falling upon it and emits it in the form of thermal radiation. Planck’s radiation law gives the power radiated by a unit area of blackbody, and the Stefan-Boltzman law expresses the total power radiated.