Simplified Chemistry

affinity chromatography A bio­chemical technique for purifying nat­ural polymers, especially proteins. It functions by attaching a specific lig­and by covalent bonding to an insolu­ble inert support. The ligand has to have a specific affinity for the poly­mer, so that when a solution contain­ing the ligand is passed down a column …

A low-density porous trans­parent material that consists of more than 90% air. Usually based on metal oxides or silica, aerogels are used as drying agents and insulators.

adsorption isotherm An equation that describes how the amount of a substance adsorbed onto a surface de­pends on its pressure (if a gas) or its concentration (if in a solution), at a constant temperature. Several ad­sorption isotherms are used in sur­face chemistry including the BET isotherm and the Langmuir ad­sorption …

adsorption indicator (absorption indicator) A type of indicator used in reactions that involve precipita­tion. The yellow dye fluorescein is a common example, used for the reac­tion NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq) As silver nitrate solution is added to the sodium chloride, silver chlo­ride precipitates. As long as Cl” …

A technique for cooling a paramagnetic salt, such as potassium chrome alum, to a temperature near absolute zero. The salt is placed between the poles of an electromagnet and the heat produced during magnetization is re­moved by liquid helium. The salt is then isolated thermally from the sur­roundings and the …

adiabatic approximation An ap­proximation used in quantum me­chanics when the time dependence of parameters, such as the internuclear distance between atoms in a molecule, is slowly varying. This ap­proximation means that the solution of the Schrodinger equation at one time goes continuously over to the solution at a later time. …

A substance added to another substance or material to improve its properties in some way. Additives are often present in small amounts and are used for a variety of purposes, as in preventing corrosion, stabilizing polymers, and preserving and improving foods.

A dark brown powder, a hydrated form of platinum (IV) oxide (PtO2), produced by heating chloroplatinic acid (H2PtC16) with sodium nitrate (NaNO3). Platinum ni­trate is produced, and this decom­poses to Platinum (IV) oxide with evolution of NO2 and oxygen. It is used in hydrogenations of alkenes to alkanes, nitro compounds …

A colourless crys­talline hydrocarbon C10H16; m.p. 269°C. It is found in certain petro­leum fractions. The structure con­tains three symmetrically fused cyclohexane rings.

The process of introducing an acyl group (RCO-) into a compound. The usual method is to react an alcohol with an acyl halide or a carboxylic acid anhydride; e.g. RCOCl + R’OH → RCOOR’ + HCl