CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

radioactive indicator    →   radioaktivni indikator

By use of suitable radioactive isotopes biochemical processes can be observed in plants, animals and humans, by measuring radioactive radiation of radioactive indicator. Artificial radioactive isotopes have the same chemical properties as natural ones, which enable us to mark those natural isotopes with addition of artificial ones and in this way follow the path of those elements during a chemical reaction. One of the most important radioactive indicators is the radioactive carbon ¹⁴C.

radioactive series    →   radioaktivni niz

Radioactive series is a sequence of nuclides formed by successive radioactive decays until a stable decay product, the end product, is formed. A famous example of a radioactive series is the decay of uranium, which through a series of steps decays into stable lead.

radium    →   radij

Radium was discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie (France) in 1898. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word radius meaning ray. It is silvery-white radioactive metal. Reacts with oxygen and water. Highly radiotoxic. Carcinogen by inhalation, ingestion, or exposure. Radium is found in uranium ores at 1 part per 3 million parts uranium. Used in treating cancer because of the gamma rays it gives off.

zeotrope    →   zeotrop

Zeotrope is a liquid mixture that shows no maximum or minimum when vapour pressure is plotted against the composition at a constant temperature. (See Azeotrope)

zero    →   nula

Nothing (i.e. the absence of an entity) is the lowest reference point in a scale.

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.

rare earth elements    →   elementi rijetkih zemalja

Rare earth elements (metals) are the elements scandium (Sc), yttrium (Y), and the lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu). These elements got their name from the fact that chemists first isolated them in their oxide forms. These oxides somewhat resemble calcium, magnesium and aluminium oxides, sometimes called common earths. Do you want to know more?

redox titration    →   redoks-titracija

Redox titration (oxidation-reduction titration) is a titration based on a redox reaction. For example, iron in water can be determined by converting dissolved iron to Fe²⁺ and titrating the solution with potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), a powerful oxidising agent.

reducing agent    →   redukcijsko sredstvo

Reducing agent may be defined in various ways, depending upon the context in which the phrase is used. In broad terms it is often taken to mean a chemical which can act as an electron donor. Thus, in the reaction:

the zinc is being reduced (gaining electrons) by reaction with the iron cations; the Fe²⁺ in this instance is acting as a reducing agent.

isopycnal    →   izopikna

Isopycnals are lines connecting points of equal density in a fluid.