CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

Zimmermann-Reinhardt’s reagent    →   Zimmermann-Reinhardtov reagens

Zimmermann-Reinhardt’s reagent is a mixture of manganese(II) sulphate, sulphuric acid and phosphorus acid. It is used for preventing oxidation of chloride ion while titrating iron(II) ion with permanganate solution.

glutamine    →   glutamin

Glutamine is neutral amino acids with polar side chains. It serves as an important carrier of ammonia and contributes it to the formation of urea and purines. Glutamine is not recognized as an essential amino acid but may become conditionally essential in certain situations, including intensive athletic training or certain gastrointestinal disorders. It is synthesized by the enzyme glutamine synthetase from glutamate and ammonia.

• Abbreviations: Gln, Q
• IUPAC name: 2,5-diamino-5-oxopentanoic acid
• Molecular formula: C₅H₁₀N₂O₃
• Molecular weight: 146.14 g/mol

glycine    →   glicin

Glycine is the smallest amino acid and is unique because it lacks a side chain. This gives it more conformational freedom than any other amino acid. Glycine is often found in turns and loops where other amino acids would be sterically unacceptable. Although it is formally nonpolar, it’s very small side chain makes no real contribution to hydrophobic interactions. Glycine is not essential to the human diet, as it is biosynthesized in the body from the amino acid serine.

• Abbreviations: Gly, G
• IUPAC name: 2-aminoacetic acid
• Molecular formula: C₂H₅NO₂
• Molecular weight: 75.07 g/mol

gold    →   zlato

Gold has been known since ancient times. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word aurum meaning gold. It is soft, malleable, bright yellow metal. Unaffected by air, water, alkalis and most acids. Gold is found in veins in the crust, with copper ore and native. Used in electronics, jewellery and coins. It is a good reflector of infrared radiation, so a thin film of gold is applied to the glass of skyscrapers to reduce internal heating from sunlight.

haematite    →   hematit

Haematite is a mineral of iron(III) oxide Fe₂O₃. It is the most important ore of iron and usually occurs in two main forms: as a massive red kidney-shaped ore and as grey to black metallic crystals known as specular iron ore. Haematite is the major red colouring agent in rocks; the largest deposits are of sedimentary origin. In industry haematite is also used as a polishing agent (jeweller’s rouge) and in paints.

hafnium    →   hafnij

Hafnium was discovered by Dirk Coster (Denmark) and Georg Karl von Hevesy (Hungary) in 1923. The origin of the name comes from the Latin name Hafnia meaning Copenhagen. It is silvery, ductile metal. Exposed surfaces form oxide film. Resists alkalis and acids (except HF). Toxic. Metal ignites and burns readily. Hafnium is obtained from mineral zircon or baddeleyite. Used in reactor control rods because of its ability to absorb neutrons.

Henry’s law    →   Henryjev zakon

Henry’s law was discovered in 1801 by the British chemist William Henry (1775-1836). At a constant temperature the mass of gas dissolved in a liquid at equilibrium is proportional to the partial pressure of the gas. It applies only to gases that do not react with the solvent.

where p_i is the partial pressure of component i above the solution, x_i is its mole fraction in the solution, and K_x is the Henry’s law constant (a characteristic of the given gas and solvent, as well as the temperature).

histidine    →   histidin

Histidine is an electrically charged amino acids with basic side chains. It is an essential amino acid, which means that humans cannot synthesize it, so it must be ingested. Histidine is perhaps the most common and versatile catalytic residue in proteins. The imidazole sidechain of histidine has a pKa of approximately 6.0. This means that, at physiologically relevant pH values, relatively small shifts in pH will change its average charge. The unprotonated imidazole is nucleophilic and can serve as a general base, while the protonated form can serve as a general acid. In addition, it is often a ligand for transition metal ions such as iron and zinc.

• Abbreviations: His, H
• IUPAC name: 2-amino-3-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)propanoic acid
• Molecular formula: C₆H₉N₃O₂
• Molecular weight: 155.15 g/mol

holmium    →   holmij

Holmium was discovered by Per Theodore Cleve (Sweden) in 1879. The origin of the name comes from the Greek word Holmia meaning Stockholm. It is fairly soft, malleable, lustrous, silvery metal. Reacts slowly with oxygen and water. Dissolves in acids. Can react violently with air or halogens. Holmium occurs in gadolinite. Most often from monazite sand. It has very few practical applications; however, it has some unusual magnetic properties that offer some hope for future applications.

hydrogen    →   vodik

Hydrogen was discovered by Sir Henry Cavendish (England) in 1766. The origin of the name comes from the Greek words hydro and genes meaning water and generate. It is colourless, odourless gas, burns and forms explosive mixtures in air. Reacts violently with oxidants. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. Commercial quantities of hydrogen are produced by reacting superheated steam with methane or carbon. In lab work from reaction of metals with acid solutions or electrolysis. Most hydrogen is used in the production of ammonia and in metal refining. Also used as fuel in rockets. Its two heavier isotopes (deuterium and tritium) used respectively for nuclear fusion.