CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

isoelectronic    →   izoelektronske čestice

Isoelectronic refers to a group of atoms or ions having the same number of electrons. For example, F^-, Ne, and Na⁺ are isoelectronics.

subatomic particles    →   subatomske čestice

Subatomic particles are the constituent parts of the atom, such as the electron, proton, neutron, etc.

alpha particle    →   alfa-čestica

Alpha particle is a helium nucleus emitted spontaneously from radioactive elements, both natural and manufactured. Its energy is in range 4-8 MeV and is dissipated in a very short path, i.e. a few centimetres of air or less than 0.005 mm of aluminium. As helium nucleus consists of two protons and two neutrons bound together as a stable entity the loss of an alpha particle involves a decrease in nucleon number of 4 and decrease of 2 in the atomic number, e.g.

A stream of alpha particles is known as an alpha ray or alpha-radiation.

beta particle    →   beta-čestica

Beta particle is a charged particle emitted from a radioactive atomic nucleus either natural or manufactured. The energies of beta particles range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV. They carry a single charge; if this is negative, the particle is identical with an electron; if positive, it is a positron.

An unstable atomic nucleus changes into a nucleus of the same mass number but different proton number with the emission of an electron and an antineutrino (or a positron and a neutrino)

elementary particle    →   elementarna čestica

Elementary particle is one of fundamental particles of which matter is composed, such as the electron, proton or neutron.

wave-particle duality    →   valno-čestična dualnost

Wave-particle duality is an observation that electrons, photons, and other very small entities behave like particles in some experiments and like waves in others.

abrasion    →   abrazija

Abrasion (lat. abrasio - to scrape off) is a process of scraping or wearing down by friction.

abrasive    →   abraziv

Abrasive is a very hard, brittle, heat-resistant substance that is used to grind the edges or rough surfaces of an object. Boron carbide, diamond, and corundum are abrasive.

absolute volume    →   apsolutni volumen

Absolute volume is the total volume of the particles in a granular material, including both permeable and impermeable voids but excluding spaces between particles.

accelerator    →   akcelerator

Accelerator is a device (machine) used for acceleration of charged particles (protons, deuterons, α-particles). Particles are accelerated under the influence of an electric field and with the help of a magnetic field are kept inside a certain space. When the particles reach enough acceleration (that is sufficient energy), they are directed on a target we wish to bomb. Best known types cyclotron, synchrotron, betatron.

Accelerator is a substance that increases the rate of chemical reaction, i.e. a catalyst.