CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY
rubidium → rubidij
Rubidium was discovered by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff (Germany) in 1861. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word rubidius meaning dark red or deepest red. It is soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal. Ignites in air. Reacts violently with water or oxidants. Rubidium occurs abundantly, but so widespread that production is limited. Usually obtained from lithium production. Used as a catalyst, photocells and vacuum and cathode-ray tubes.
ruthenium → rutenij
Ruthenium was discovered by Karl Karlovich Klaus (Russia) in 1844. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word Ruthenia meaning Russia. It is rare, extremely brittle, silver-grey metal. Unaffected by air, water or acids. Reacts with very hot (molten) alkalis. Ruthenium is found in pentlandite and pyroxinite. Used to harden platinum and palladium. Aircraft magnetos use platinum alloy with 10 % ruthenium.
scandium → skandij
Scandium was discovered by Lars Fredrik Nilson (Sweden) in 1879. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word Scandia meaning Scandinavia. It is fairly soft, silvery-white metal. Burns easily. Tarnishes readily in air. Reaction with water releases hydrogen. Reacts with air and halogens. Scandium occurs mainly in the minerals thortveitile (~34 % scandium) and wiikite. Also in some tin and tungsten ores. Pure scandium is obtained as a by-product of uranium refining. Scandium metal is used in some aerospace applications. Scandium oxide (Sc2O2) is used in the manufacture of high-intensity electric lamps. Scandium iodide (ScI3) is used in lamps that produce light having a colour closely matching natural sunlight.
silicon → silicij
Silicon was discovered by Jöns Jacob Berzelius (Sweden) in 1824. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word silicis meaning flint. Amorphous form of silicon is brown powder; crystalline form has grey metallic appearance. Solid form unreactive with oxygen, water and most acids. Dissolves in hot alkali. Silica dust is a moderately toxic acute irritant. Silicon makes up major portion of clay, granite, quartz and sand. Commercial production depends on a reaction between sand (SiO2) and carbon at a temperature of around 2200 °C. Used in glass as silicon dioxide (SiO2). Silicon carbide (SiC) is one of the hardest substances known and used in polishing. Also the crystalline form is used in semiconductors.
silver → srebro
Silver has been known since ancient times. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word argentum meaning silver. It is silvery-ductile and malleable metal. Stable in water and oxygen. Reacts with sulfur compounds to form black sulfides. Silver is found in ores called argentite (AgS), light ruby silver (Ag3AsS3), dark ruby silver (Ag3SbS3) and brittle silver. Used in alloys for jewellery and in other compounds for photography. It is also a good conductor, but expensive.
sodium → natrij
Sodium was discovered by Sir Humphry Davy (England) in 1807. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word natrium meaning sodium carbonate. It is soft silvery-white metal. Fresh surfaces oxidize rapidly. Reacts vigorously, even violently with water. Reacts with water to give off flammable gas. Burns in air with a brilliant white flame. Sodium is obtained by electrolysis of melted sodium chloride (salt), borax and cryolite. Metallic sodium is vital in the manufacture of organic compounds. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is table salt. Liquid sodium is used to cool nuclear reactors.
styrene → stiren
Styrene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon (C6H5OC2H3O) colourless, toxic liquid with a strong aromatic aroma. It is soluble in alcohol, ether, acetone, and carbon disulfide, but dissolves only slightly in water. It is used to make plastics such as polystyrene, ABS, styrene-butadiene rubber styrene-butadiene latex and unsaturated polyesters.
sulfur → sumpor
Sulfur has been known since ancient times. The origin of the name comes from the Sanskrit word sulvere meaning sulphur; also from the Latin word sulphurium meaning sulphur. It is pale yellow, odourless, brittle solid, which is insoluble in water but soluble in carbon disulfide. Sulfur is found in pure form and in ores like cinnabar, galena, sphalerite and stibnite. Pure form is obtained from underground deposits by the Frasch process. Used in matches, gunpowder, medicines, rubber and pesticides, dyes and insecticides. Also for making sulfuric acid (H2SO4).
tellurium → telurij
Tellurium was discovered by Franz Joseph Muller von Reichstein (Romania) in 1782. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word tellus meaning earth. It is silvery-white, brittle semi-metal. Unreactive with water or HCl; dissolves in HNO3; burns in air or oxygen. Tellurium is obtained as a by-product of copper and lead refining. Used to improve the machining quality of copper and stainless steel products and to colour glass and ceramics. Also in thermoelectric devices. Some is used in the rubber industry and it is a basic ingredient in manufacturing blasting caps.
tin → kositar
Tin has been known since ancient times. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word stannum meaning tin. It is silvery-white, soft, malleable and ductile metal. Exposed surfaces form oxide film. Resists oxygen and water. Dissolves in acids and bases. Organic tin compounds may be highly toxic. Tin is principally found in the ore cassiterite (SnO2) and stannine (Cu2FeSnS4). Used as a coating for steel cans since it is non-toxic and non-corrosive. Also in solder (33 %Sn:67 %Pb), bronze (20 %Sn:80 %Cu) and pewter. Stannous fluoride (SnF2), a compound of tin and fluorine is used in some toothpaste.
Citing this page:
Generalic, Eni. "Julia shmidov latz mn." Croatian-English Chemistry Dictionary & Glossary. 29 June 2022. KTF-Split. {Date of access}. <https://glossary.periodni.com>.
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