CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

kinetic energy    →   kinetička energija

Kinetic energy (E_k) is associated with the state of motion of a body. It is a scalar property and defined to be

Kinetic energy is most clearly exhibited in gases, in which molecules have much greater freedom of motion than in liquids and solids.

potential energy    →   potencijalna energija

Potential energy (E_p) is the energy stored in a body or system as a consequence of its position, shape, or state (this includes gravitation energy, electrical energy, nuclear energy, and chemical energy). Gravitational potential energy is the energy associated with the state of separation between bodies that attracts each other via gravitational force. Elastic potential energy is the energy associated with the state of compression or extension of an elastic object. Thermal energy is associated with the random motions of atoms and molecules in a body.

law of conservation of energy    →   zakon o očuvanju energije

Law of conservation of energy: In an isolated system energy can be transferred from one form to another but the total energy of the system remains constant.

mass-energy equivalence    →   ekvivalencija mase i energije

In the special theory of relativity Einstein demonstrated that neither mass nor energy were conserved separately, but that they could be traded one for the other and only the total "mass-energy" was conserved. The relationship between the mass and the energy is contained in what is probably the most famous equation in science,

Where m is the mass of the object and c is the velocity of light. Cockcroft and Walton (1932) are routinely credited with the first experimental verification of mass-energy equivalence.

activated complex    →   aktivirani kompleks

Activated complex is an intermediate structure formed in the conversion of reactants to products. The activated complex is the structure at the maximum energy point along the reaction path; the activation energy is the difference between the energies of the activated complex and the reactants.

active site    →   aktivno mjesto

Active site is a pocket or crevice on an enzyme molecule that fits reactant molecules like a hand in a glove. The active site lowers the activation energy for reaction

Arrhenius equation    →   Arheniusova jednadžba

In 1889, Svante Arrhenius explained the variation of rate constants with temperature for several elementary reactions using the relationship

where the rate constant k is the total frequency of collisions between reaction molecules A times the fraction of collisions exp(-E_a/RT) that have an energy that exceeds a threshold activation energy E_a at a temperature of T (in kelvin). R is the universal gas constant.

catalyst    →   katalizator

Catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change. Catalysts that have the same phase as the reactants are homogenous catalysts (e.g. enzymes in biochemical reactions). Those that have a different phase are heterogeneous catalyst (e.g. metals or oxides used in gas reactions).

The catalyst provides an alternative pathway by which the reaction can proceed, in which the activation energy is lower. In thus increases the rate at which the reaction comes to an equilibrium, although it does not alter the position of the equilibrium.

collision theory    →   teorija sudara

Collision theory is theory that explains how chemical reactions take place and why rates of reaction alter. For a reaction to occur the reactant particles must collide. Only a certain fraction of the total collisions cause chemical change; these are called successful collisions. The successful collisions have sufficient energy (activation energy) at the moment of impact to break the existing bonds and form new bonds, resulting in the products of the reaction. Increasing the concentration of the reactants and raising the temperature bring about more collisions and therefore more successful collisions, increasing the rate of reaction.

absolute zero    →   apsolutna nula temperature

Absolute zero is theoretically, the lowest attainable temperature. It is the energy at which the kinetic energy of atom and molecules is minimal and is equivalent to -273.15 °C.