CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

coenzyme    →   koenzim

Coenzyme is an organic nonprotein molecule, such as a vitamin, that associates with an enzyme in catalysing biochemical reactions. Coenzymes usually participate in the substrate-enzyme interaction by donating or acepting certain chemical groups.

composition of ocean water    →   sastav oceanske vode

The proportions of the major constituents of ocean water are almost constant throughout the world. Salinity (total salt content) and the concentrations of individual chemical constituents in sea wateris given the units psu (practical salinity units). For most purposes one can assume that the new unit, psu, and the older unit, ‰, are synonymous.

The average composition of the ocean water is as shown on the following table.

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.

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.

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.

lipids    →   lipidi

Lipids are a loosely defined term for substances of biological origin that are soluble in nonpolar solvents. They consist of saponifiable lipids, such as glycerides (fats and oils) and phospholipids, as well as nonsaponifiable lipids, principally steroids.

Mannich reaction    →   Mannichova reakcija

Mannich reaction is a process in which hydrogen atoms in organic compounds are replaced with a methyl group.

mercaptans    →   merkaptani

Mercaptans are a traditional term abandoned by IUPAC, synonymous with thiols, a sulfur-containing organic compound with the general formula R-SH where R is any radical. This term is still widely used.

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.