CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

electrolytic cell    →   elektrolitska ćelija

Electrolytic cell is an electrochemical cell that converts electrical energy into chemical energy. The chemical reactions do not occur spontaneously at the electrodes when they are connected through an external circuit. The reaction must be forced by applying an external electric current. It is used to store electrical energy in chemical form (rechargeable battery). It is also used to decompose or produce (synthesise) new chemicals by the application of electrical power. This process is called electrolysis, e.g., water can be decomposed into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The free energy change of the overall cell reaction is positive.

electron configuration    →   elektronska konfiguracija

The electron configuration shows how many electrons there are in an atom or ion and their distribution along orbitals (see Table of electronic configuration of elements). Structure and all regularity in the periodic system depend upon electronic configuration of atoms of elements. Characteristics of elements mainly depend on electronic configuration of the outer shell. Refilling of the new electronic shell atoms of elements of similar electronic configuration emerge as well as in the previous shell, which adds up to periodicities of characteristics of elements.

electronegativity    →   elektronegativnost

Electronegativity is a parameter originally introduced by L. Pauling which describes, on a relative basis, the power of an atom to attract electrons. For example, in hydrogen chloride, the chlorine atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen and the molecule is polar, with a negative charge on the chlorine atom.

There are various ways of assigning values for the electronegativity of an element. Pauling electronegativities are based on bond dissociation energies using a scale in which fluorine, the most electronegative element, has the value 4 and francium, the lowest electronegative element, has the value 0.7.

mineral acid    →   mineralna kiselina

Mineral acid is an acid made from minerals by chemical reaction, e.g. hydrochloric acid is produced from sodium chloride and sulphuric acid is made from sulphur.

mineral water    →   mineralna voda

Mineral water is a groundwater that rises to the surface through a natural opening in the earth or rock and contains a relatively high concentration of mineral ions and trace of elements which can be radioactive or thermal.

mixture    →   smjesa

Mixture is a heterogeneous association of substances where various individual substances retain their identities and can usually be separated by mechanical means. Includes solutions or compounds but does not include alloys or amalgams.

energy    →   energija

Energy (E, U) is the characteristic of a system that enables it to do work. Like work itself, it is measured in joules (J).

The internal energy of a body is the sum of the potential energy and the kinetic energy of its component atoms and molecules.

Potential energy 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).

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion and is usually defined as the work that will be done by a body possessing the energy when it is brought to rest. For a body of mass m having a speed v, the kinetic energy is mv²/2. Kinetic energy is most clearly exhibited in gases, in which molecules have much greater freedom of motion than in liquids and solids.

In an isolated system energy can be transferred from one form to another but the total energy of the system remains constant.

enthalpy    →   entalpija

Enthalpy (H) is a thermodynamic property of a system defined by

where U is the internal energy of the system, p its pressure, and V its volume. J.W. Gibbs put the concept of an ensemble forward in 1902. In a chemical reaction carried out in the atmosphere the pressure remains constant and the enthalpy of reaction (ΔH), is equal to

For an exothermic reaction ΔH is taken to be negative.

epoxy resin    →   epoksi smola

Epoxy resins are thermosetting resins produced by copolymerising epoxide compounds with phenols (e.g. epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A). They contain ether linkages (-O-) and form a tight, cross-linked polymer network. Toughness, good adhesion, corrosive-chemical resistance, and good dielectric properties characterise epoxy resins. Most epoxy resins are two-part types which harden when blended.

explosive    →   eksploziv

Explosive is a compound or mixture that, when ignited or detonated, undergoes rapid violent chemical reaction that produces large amount of gas and heat, accompanied by light, sound and a high pressure shock wave.