CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

crude oil    →   sirova nafta

Crude oil (petroleum) is a fossil fuel formed from plant and animal remains many million of years ago. It is occasionally found in springs or pools but is usually drilled from wells beneath the earth’s surface. Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons with small quantities of other chemicals such as sulphur, nitrogen and oxygen. Crude is the raw material which is refined into petrol, heating oil, jet fuel, propane, petrochemicals, and other products.

cyclic compound    →   ciklički spoj

Cyclic describing a compound that has a ring of atoms in its molecules. In homocyclic compounds all the atoms in the ring are of the same type, e.g. benzene (C₆H₆) and cyclohexane (C₆H₁₂). These two examples are also examples of carbocyclic compounds; i.e. the rings are made of carbon atoms. If different atoms occur in the ring, as in pyridine (C₅H₅N), the compound is said to be heterocyclic.

cysteine    →   cistein

Cysteine is neutral amino acids with polar side chains. Because of its high reactivity, the thiol group of cysteine has numerous biological functions. It serves as a potent nucleophile and metal ligand (particularly for iron and zinc), but is best known for its ability to form disulfide bonds, which often make an important contribution to the stability of extracellular proteins. Cysteine is a non-essential amino acid, which means that it is biosynthesized in humans.

• Abbreviations: Cys, C
• IUPAC name: 2-amino-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid
• Molecular formula: C₃H₇NO₂S
• Molecular weight: 121.16 g/mol

electroorganic reaction    →   elektroorganske reakcije

Electroorganic reaction is an organic reaction produced in an electrolytic cell. Electroorganic reactions are used to synthesise compounds that are difficult to produce by conventional techniques. An example of an electroorganic reaction is Kolbe’s method of synthesising alkanes.

fermentation    →   fermentacija

Fermentation is a class of biochemical reactions that break down complex organic molecules (such as carbohydrates) into simpler materials (such as ethanol, carbon dioxide, and water). Fermentation reactions are catalyzed by enzymes.

dielectric constant    →   dielektrična konstanta

Dielectric constant or permittivity (ε) is an index of the ability of a substance to attenuate the transmission of an electrostatic force from one charged body to another. The lower the value, the greater the attenuation. The standard measurement apparatus utilises a vacuum whose dielectric constant is 1. In reference to this, various materials interposed between the charged terminal have the following value at 20 °C:

The exceptionally high value for water accounts for its unique behaviour as a solvent and in electrolytic solutions. Dielectric constant values decrease as the temperature rises.

glyceride    →   glicerid

Glycerides are esters of glycerol (propane-1,2,3-triol) with fatty acids, widely distributed in nature. They are by a long-established custom subdivided into triglycerides, 1,2- or 1,3-diglycerides, and 1- or 2- monoglycerides, according to the number and positions of acyl groups.

heterocyclic compounds    →   heterociklički spojevi

Heterocyclic compounds are cyclic compounds having as ring members atoms of at least two different elements, e.g., quinoline, 1,2-thiazole.

Lewis, Gilbert N.    →   Lewis, Gilbert N.

Gilbert Newton Lewis (1875-1946) is an American chemist whose theory of the electron pair fostered understanding of the covalent bond and extended the concept of acids and bases.

lipase    →   lipaza

Lipase is an enzyme, secreted by the pancreas and the glands of the small intestine that breaks down fats into glycerol and fatty acids during digestion.