CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

plastic sulphur    →   plastični sumpor

Plastic sulphur is the shape of sulphur which emerges when hot, liquid sulphur pours out in the water. It can be stretched in long fibres is unstable unstable. It easily solidifies.

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).

cross-linking    →   umrežavanje

Cross-linking is an attachment of two chains of polymer molecules by bridges, composed of either an element, a group, or a compound, that join certain carbon atoms of the chains by primary chemical bonds, as indicated in the schematic diagram

Cross-linking occurs in nature in substances made up of polypeptide chains that are joined by the disulfide bonds of the cysteine residue, as in keratins or insulin. Cross-linking can be artificially effected, either adding a chemical substance (cross-linking agent), or by subjecting the polymer to high-energy radiation. Examples are: vulcanisation of rubber with sulphur, cross-linking of polystyrene with divinylbenzene, or cross-linking of polyethylene by means of high-energy radiation.

Cross-linking has the effect of changing a plastic from thermoplastic to thermosetting. Thus, it also increases strength, heat and electrical resistance, and especially resistance to solvents and other chemicals.

acid    →   kiselina

Acid is a type of compound that contains hydrogen and dissociates in water to produce positive hydrogen ions. The reaction for an acid HA is commonly written:

In fact, the hydrogen ion (the proton) is solvated, and the complete reaction is:

This definition of acids comes from the Arrhenius theory. Such acids tend to be corrosive substances with a sharp taste, which turn litmus red and produce colour changes with other indicators. They are referred to as protonic acids and are classified into strong acids, which are almost completely dissociated in water, (e.g. sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid), and weak acids, which are only partially dissociated (e.g. acetic acid and hydrogen sulphide). The strength of an acid depends on the extent to which it dissociates, and is measured by its dissociation constant.

In the Lowry-Brønsted theory of acids and bases (1923), the definition was extended to one in which an acid is a proton donor (a Brønsted acid), and a base is a proton acceptor (a Brønsted base). An important feature of the Lowry-Brønsted concept is that when an acid gives up a proton, a conjugate base is formed that is capable of accepting a proton.

Similarly, every base produces its conjugate acid as a result of accepting a proton.

For example, acetate ion is the conjugate base of acetic acid, and ammonium ion is the conjugate acid of ammonia.

As the acid of a conjugate acid/base pair becomes weaker, its conjugate base becomes stronger and vice versa.

A further extension of the idea of acids and bases was made in the Lewis theory. In this, a G. N. Lewis acid is a compound or atom that can accept a pair of electrons and a Lewis base is one that can donate an electron pair. This definition encompasses "traditional" acid-base reactions, but it also includes reactions that do not involve ions, e.g.

in which NH₃ is the base (donor) and BCl₃ the acid (acceptor).

acid rain    →   kisela kiša

Acid rain is rainwater that shows acid reaction because of nitrogen and sulphur oxides absorption. It is generated mainly by industrial pollutions.

acrolein    →   akrolein

Acrolein (propenal) is a colourless pungent liquid unsaturated aldehyde. It is made from propene and can be polymerized to give acrylate resins, transparent plastic materials.

acrylic acid    →   akrilna kiselina

Acrylic acid (propenoic acid) is a colourless liquid, smelling like acetic acid. It can be formed by acrolein oxidation. It readily polymerizes and is used in the manufacture of acrylic resins, transparent plastic materials (organic glass).

battery acid    →   baterijska kiselina

Battery acid is a solution of approximately 6 mol L^-1 sulphuric acid used in the lead storage battery

blanching    →   blanširanje

1. Blanching is a heat treatment of foodstuffs to partially or completely inactivate the naturally occurring enzymes prior to freezing.

2. Blanching is a washing process for coins cleaning. The black surface layer of cupric oxide is removing by dipping the coins in hot dilute sulphuric acid (w(H₂SO₄) = 10 %).

anhydrous    →   anhidrid

Anhydrous (without water) is an applied to minerals which do not contain water of crystallization or water of chemical combination. For example, strongly heated copper (II) sulphate pent hydrate (CuSO₄•5H₂O) produces anhydrous copper (II) sulphate (CuSO₄). Less stable and more dangerous to use than hydrated.