CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

brass    →   mjed

Brasses are alloys of copper and zinc (generally 5 % to 40 %). Brass has been known to man since prehistoric times, long before zinc itself was discovered. It was produced by melting copper together with calamine, a zinc ore. Its ductility reaches a maximum with about 30 % zinc and its tensile strength with 45 % although this property varies greatly with the mechanical and heat treatment of the alloy. Typical applications included gears, plumbing ware fittings, adapters, valves and screw machine products. The French horn is a valved brass wind instrument.

Brass may contain small amounts of other alloying elements, such as aluminum, lead, tin, or nickel. Lead can be added as an alloying element resulting in a brass that can be rapidly machined and produces minimal tool wear. Additions of aluminium, iron and manganese to brass improve strength, whilst silicon additions improve wear resistance. Brass containing tin (< 2 % ) is less liable to corrosion in seawater; it is sometimes called naval brass and is used in naval construction.

calorimetry    →   kalorimetrija

Calorimetry is a measurement of the amount of heat evolved or absorbed in a chemical reaction, change of state, or formation of a solution, or any other event that includes heat transfer.

carbon fibre    →   ugljično vlakno

Carbon fibres are threadlike strands of pure carbon that are strong and flexible. Carbon fibres can be bound in a plastic resin matrix to form a strong composite. It is light-weight and stronger than steel.

bronze    →   bronca

Bronze is an alloy made primarily of copper and tin. It may contain as much as 25 % tin. Bronzes with 10 % or more tin are harder, stronger, and resistant to corrosion. As bronze weathers, a brown or green film forms on the surface. This film inhibits corrosion. Silicon or aluminium is often added to bronze to improve resistance to corrosion. Phosphorus, lead, zinc, and other metals may be added for special purposes. The alloy is hard and easily cast and is extensively used in bearings, valves and other machine parts.

Bronze was one of the first alloys developed by ancient metal workers. The Bronze Age occurred in Europe around 2200 to 700 BC. Bronze was used for weapons such as spearheads, swords, and knives. Since ancient times, bronze has been the most popular metal for casting statues and other art objects.

The term bronze has been adopted commercially for many copper-rich alloys that contain little or no tin but are similar in colour to bronze, including aluminium bronze, manganese bronze, and silicon bronze. Aluminium bronze is used to make tools and, because it will not spark when struck. Manganese bronze is actually a brass that contains manganese. It is often used to make ship propellers because it is strong and resists corrosion by sea water.

Carnot cycle    →   Carnotov kružni proces

Carnot cycle is the most efficient cycle of operations for a reversible heat engine. Published in 1824 by French physicist Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot (1796-1832), it consists of four operations on the working substance in the engine:

1-2: Isothermal expansion at thermodynamic temperature T₁ with heat Q_H taken in.

2-3: Adiabatic expansion with a fall of temperature to T₂.

3-4: Isothermal compression at temperature T₂ with heat Q_C given out.

4-1: Adiabatic compression at temperature back to T₁.

According to the Carnot principle, the efficiency of any reversible heat engine depends only on the temperature range through which it works, rather than the properties of the working substances.

crystal    →   kristal

Crystal is a solid with a regular geometric shape, having a characteristic internal structure and enclosed by symmetrically arranged plane surfaces, intersecting at definite and characteristic angles. In crystals the particles (atoms, ions, or molecules) have a regular three-dimensional repeating arrangement in space. This is called the crystal structure. The crystal lattice is the arrangement of points in space at which the particles are positioned.

crystallisation    →   kristalizacija

Crystallisation is process in which the melted substance from a saturated solution turns into solid substance (crystal).

cyanogen    →   cijan

Cyanogen is a colourless gas, (CN)₂ with a pungent odour. The compound is very toxic. It my be prepared in the laboratory by heating mercury (II) cyanide.

dissolved substance    →   otopljena tvar

Dissolved substance is a solid, liquid or gas matter dissolved in a solvent. Depending upon the particle size of dissolved substance, solutions differ in properties and can be divided into real solutions (diameter of particles is smaller than 1 nm), colloid solutions (diameter of particles is from 1 nm to 200 nm) and suspensions (diameter of particles is greater than 200 nm).

centrifuge    →   centrifuga

Centrifuge is a device in which solid or liquid particles of different densities are separated by rotating them in a tube in a horizontal circle. The dense particles tend to move along the length of the tube to a greater radius of rotation, displacing the lighter particles to the other end.