CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

hydrolysis    →   hidroliza

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which water reacts with another substance to form two or more new substances. This involves ionisation of the water molecule, as well as splitting of the compound hydrolysed, e.g.

Examples are conversion of starch to glucose by water in the presence of suitable catalysts and a reaction of the ions of a dissolved salt to form various products, such as acids, complex ions, etc.

hydrosphere    →   hidrosfera

Hydrosphere (from the Greek for water sphere) is a discontinuous layer of water on, under, and over the Earth's surface. It includes all liquid and frozen surface waters, groundwater held in soil and rock, and atmospheric water vapour. Water continuously circulates between these reservoirs in what is called the hydrologic cycle, which is driven by energy from the Sun.

ionic bond    →   ionska veza

Ionic bond is a strong force of attraction holding atoms together in a molecule or crystal. Typically chemical bonds have energies of about 100 kJ mol^-1. Ionic bond is a bond at which one of the participants, during the procedure of bonding, gives away its unpaired electrons to another atom so that both can achieve electron arrangement of the closest noble gas. In order to form an ionic bond one of the atoms must cross to the positively charged ion by losing certain number of electrons and the other atom must receive those electrons and cross to the negatively charged ion.

Joule-Thomson’s effect    →   Joule-Thomsonov efekt

Temperature of ideal gas will not be changed when it is repressed to a lower pressure, but when real gases are repressed to a lower pressure, a lower or higher temperature change appears under high pressures. The temperature change which appears at real gas expansion in a system into which energy is not brought is called Joule-Thomson’s effect. It was determined that when air is repressed by 1 bar, its temperature drops by 0.25 °C. That minute effect is completely irrelevant for most technical processes, but is also used in gas liquefying procedure.

lactic acid    →   mliječna kiselina

Lactic acid is an acid produced as a result of anaerobic respiration in muscles and red blood cells, i.e. when glycogen is used as an energy source for respiration rather than oxygen. After production, it is converted back to glycogen in the liver. The build up of large amounts of lactic acid in the blood can lead to stress and toxic effects. High levels are usually a result of sustained, excessive exercise.

law of conservation of mass    →   zakon o očuvanju mase

Law of conservation of mass states that no detectable gain or loss in mass occurs in chemical reactions. The state of a substance may change in a chemical reaction, for example, from a solid to a gas, but its total mass will not change. Note that the energy released (exothermic) or adsorbed (endothermic) in a chemical reaction is a result of energy transfer between atoms and their environment.

Lyman series    →   Lymanova serija

Lyman series is the series of lines in the spectrum of the hydrogen atom which corresponds to transitions between the ground state (principal quantum number n = 1) and successive excited states.

lead-acid battery    →   olovni akumulator

Lead-acid battery is a electrical storage device that uses a reversible chemical reaction to store energy. It was invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté. Lead-acid batteries are composed of a lead(IV) oxide cathode, a sponge metallic lead anode and a sulphuric acid solution electrolyte.

In charging, the electrical energy supplied to the battery is changed to chemical energy and stored. The chemical reaction during recharge is normally written:

In discharging, the chemical energy stored in the battery is changed to electrical energy. During discharge, lead sulfate (PbSO4) is formed on both the positive and negative plates. The chemical reaction during discharge is normally written:

Lead acid batteries are low cost, robust, tolerant to abuse, tried and tested. For higher power applications with intermittent loads however, they are generally too big and heavy and they suffer from a shorter cycle life.

mass    →   masa

Mass (m) is the quantity of matter contained in a particle or body regardless of its location in the universe. Mass is constant, whereas weight is affected by the distance of a body from the centre of the Earth (or of other planet). The SI unit is kilogram.

According to the Einstein equation

all forms of energy possess a mass equivalent.

nuclear reactor    →   nuklearni reaktor

Nuclear reactor is an assembly of fissionable material (uranium-235 or plutonium-239) designed to produce a sustained and controllable chain reaction for the generation of electric power.

The essential components of a nuclear reactor are:

1. The core, metal rods containing enough fissionable material to maintain a chain reaction at the necessary power level (as much as 50 t of uranium may be required).
2. A source of neutrons to initiate the reaction (such as a mixture of polonium and beryllium)
3. A moderator to reduce the energy of fast neutrons for more efficient fission (material such as graphite, beryllium, heavy water, and light water are used)
4. A coolant to remove the fission-generated heat (water, sodium, helium, and nitrogen may be used)
5. A control system such as rods of boron or cadmium that have high capture cross sections (to absorb neutrons)
6. Adequate shielding, remote-control equipment, and appropriate instrumentation are essential for personnel safety and efficient operation.