CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

surface tension    →   površinska napetost

Surface tension (σ) is a property of liquids arising from unbalanced molecular cohesive forces at or near the surface, as a result of which the surface tends to contract and has properties resembling those of a stretched elastic membrane. As a result of which the surface tends to contract and has properties resembling those of a stretched elastic membrane.

unified atomic mass unit    →   unificirana atomska jedinica mase

Unified atomic mass unit (u or m_u) is a unit of mass used in atomic, molecular, and nuclear science, defined as the mass of one atom of ¹²C divided by 12. Its approximate value is

valence bond theory    →   teorija valentne veze

Valence bond theory is a theory that explains the shapes of molecules in terms of overlaps between half-filled atomic orbitals, or half filled hybridised orbitals.

Hooke’s law    →   Hookeov zakon

Hooke’s law stating that the deformation of a body is proportional to the magnitude of the deforming force, provided that the body’s elastic limit (see elasticity) is not exceeded. If the elastic limit is not reached, the body will return to its original size once the force is removed. The law was discovered by English physicist Robert Hooke in 1676.

If a body on elastic spring is displaced from its equilibrium position (i.e. if the spring is stretched or compressed), a restitution force tries to return the body back in its equilibrium position. The magnitude of that force is proportional to the displacement of the body

Where F is the restitutional (elastic) force, x is the displacement of the body and k is the spring constant, which depends on dimensions, shape and material of the spring.

hybridization    →   hibridizacija

Hybridization is an internal linear combination of atomic orbitals, in which the wave functions of the atomic orbitals are added together to generate new hybrid wave functions. The new orbitals which are formed are hybrids of the originals and have properties (shape, size and energy) that are somewhere in between.

hydration    →   hidratacija

Hydration is addition of water or the elements of water (i.e. H and OH) to a molecular entity. The term is also used in a more restricted sense for the process:

isoleucine    →   izoleucin

Isoleucine is hydrophobic amino acids with aliphatic side chain. It is one of the three amino acids having branched hydrocarbon side chains. The side chains of these amino acids are not reactive but, these residues are critically important for ligand binding to proteins, and play central roles in protein stability. Isoleucine is an essential amino acid, which means that humans cannot synthesize it, so it must be ingested.

• Abbreviations: Ile, I
• IUPAC name: 2-amino-3-methylpentanoic acid
• Molecular formula: C₆H₁₃NO₂
• Molecular weight: 131.12 g/mol

VSEPR    →   VSEPR

Valence shell electron pair repulsion theory (VSEPR) is a model that explains the shapes of molecules by assuming that electron pairs arrange themselves around atoms in a way that minimizes electron-electron repulsions.

leucine    →   leucin

Leucine is hydrophobic amino acids with aliphatic side chain. It has one additional methylene group in its side chain compared with valine. The nonpolar hydrophobic amino acids tend to cluster together within proteins, stabilizing protein structure by means of hydrophobic interactions. Leucine is an essential amino acid, which means that humans cannot synthesize it, so it must be ingested.

• Abbreviations: Leu, L
• IUPAC name: 2-amino-4-methylpentanoic acid
• Molecular formula: C₆H₁₃NO₂
• Molecular weight: 131.17 g/mol

liquid aggregate state    →   tekuće agregatno stanje

Liquids have a constant volume, but they do not have a constant shape. They assume the shape of a vessel they are in at the moment. It happens because molecules of liquids are still close enough to each other, the attracting forces still being very strong.