WORDS TO KNOW

A

Abrasive

a powdery material used to grind or polish other materials

Absolute zero

the lowest temperature possible, about –273°C (–459°F)

Actinide family

elements in the periodic table with atomic numbers 90 through 103

Alchemy

a kind of pre-sceince that existed from about 500 B.C. to about the end of the 16th century

Alkali metal

an element in Group 1 (IA) of the periodic table

Alkali

a chemical with properties opposite those of an acid

Alkaline earth metal

an element found in Group 2 (IIA) of the periodic table

Allotopes

forms of an element with different physical and chemical properties

Alloy

a mixture of two or more metals that has properties different from those of the individual metals

Alpha particles

tiny, atom-sized particles that can destroy cells

Alpha radiation

a form of radiation that consists of very fast moving alpha particles and helium atoms without their electrons

Amalgam

a combination of mercury and at least one other metal

Amorphous

without crystalline shape

Anhydrous ammonia

dry ammonia gas

Antiseptic

a chemical that stops the growth of germs

Aqua regia

a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids that often reacts with materials that do not react with either acid separately

B

Battery

a device for changing chemical energy into electrical energy

Biochemistry

the field of chemistry concerned with the study of compounds found in living organisms

Biocompatible

not causing a reaction when placed into the body

Bipolar disorder

a condition in which a person experiences wild mood swings

Brass

an alloy of copper and zinc

Bronze Age

a period in human history ranging from about 3500 B.C. to 1000 B.C., when bronze was widely used for weapons, utensils, and ornamental objects

Bronze

an alloy of copper and tin

Buckminsterfullerene

full name for buckyball or fullerene; see Buckyball

Buckyball

an allotrope of carbon whose 60 carbon atoms are arranged in a sphere-like form

C

Capacitor

an electrical device, somewhat like a battery, that collects and then stores up electrical charges

Carat

a unit of weight for gold and other precious metals, equal to one fifth of a gram, or 200 milligrams

Carbon arc lamp

a lamp for producing very bright white light

Carbon-14 dating

a technique that allows archaeologists to estimate the age of once-living materials by using the knowledge that carbon-14 is found in all living carbon materials; once an organism dies, no more carbon-14 remains

Cassiterite

an ore of tin containing tin oxide, the major commercial source of tin metal

Catalyst

a substance used to speed up or slow down a chemical reaction without undergoing any change itself

Chalcogens

elements in Group 16 (VIA) of the periodic table

Chemical reagent

a substance, such as an acid or an alkali, used to study other substances

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

a family of chemical compounds consisting of carbon, fluorine, and chlorine that were once used widely as propellants in commercial sprays but regulated in the United States since 1987 because of their harmful environmental effects

Corrosive agent

a material that tends to vigorously react or eat away at something

Cyclotron

a particle accelerator, or "atom smasher," in which small particles, such as protons, are made to travel very fast and then collide with atoms, causing the atoms to break apart

D

Density

the mass of a substance per unit volume

Diagnosis

finding out what medical problems a person may have

Distillation

a process by which two or more liquids can be separated from each other by heating them to their boiling points

"Doped"

containing a small amount of a material as an impurity

Ductile

capable of being drawn into thin wires

E

Earth

in mineralogy, a naturally occurring form of an element, often an oxide of the element

Electrolysis

a process by which a compound is broken down by passing an electric current through it

Electroplating

the process by which a thin layer of one metal is laid down on top of a second metal

Enzyme

a substance that stimulates certain chemical reactions in the body

F

Fabrication

shaping, molding, bending, cutting, and working with a metal

Fission

the process by which large atoms break apart, releasing large amounts of energy, smaller atoms, and neutrons in the process

Fly ash

the powdery material produced during the production of iron or some other metal

Frasch method

a method for removing sulfur from underground mines by pumping hot air and water down a set of pipes

Fuel cell

any system that uses chemical reactions to produce electricity

Fullerene

alternative name for buckyball; see Buckyball

G

Galvanizing

the process of laying down a thin layer of zinc on the surface of a second metal

Gamma rays

a form of radiation similar to X rays

H

Half life

the time it takes for half of a sample of a radioactive element to break down

Halogen

one of the elements in Group 17 (VIIA) of the periodic table

Heat exchange medium

a material that picks up heat in one place and carries it to another place

Hydrocarbons

compounds made of carbon and hydrogen

Hypoallergenic

not causing an allergic reaction

I

Inactive

does not react with any other element

Inert gases

see Noble gases

Inert

not very active

Isotope

two or more forms of an element that differ from each other according to their mass number

L

Lanthanide family

the elements in the periodic table with atomic numbers 58 through 71

Laser

a device for making very intense light of one very specific color that is intensified many times over

Liquid air

air that has been cooled to a very low temperature

Luminescence

the property of giving off light without giving off heat

M

Machining

the bending, cutting, and shaping of a metal by mechanical means

"Magic number"

the number of protons and/or neutrns in an atom that tend to make the atom stable (not radioactive)

Magnetic field

the space around an electric current or a magnet in which a magnetic force can be observed

Malleable

capable of being hammered into thin sheets

Metals

elements that have a shiny surface, are good conductors of heat and electricity, and can be melted, hammered into thin sheets, and drawn into thin wires

Metalloid

an element that has characteristics of both metals and non-metals

Metallurgy

the art and science of working with metals

Micronutrient

a substance needed in very small amounts to maintain good health

Misch metal

a metal that contains different rare earth elements and has the unusual property of giving off a spark when struck

Mohs scale

a way of expressing the hardness of a material

Mordant

a material that helps a dye stick to cloth

N

Nanotubes

long, thin, and extremely tiny tubes

Native

not combined with any other element

Neutro radiography

a technique that uses neutrons to study the internal composition of material

Nickel allergy

a health condition caused by exposure to nickel metal

Nitrogen fixation

the process of converting nitrogen as an element to a compound that contains nitrogen

Noble gases

elements in Group 18 (VIIIA) of the periodic table

Noble metals

see Platinum family

Non-metals

elements that do not have the properties of metals

Nuclear fission

a process in which neutrons collide with the nucleus of a plutonium or uranium atom, causing it to split apart with the release of very large amounts of energy

Nuclear reactor

a device in which nuclear reactions occur

O

Optical fiber

a thin strand of glass through which light passes; the light carries a message through a telephone wire

Ore

a mineral compound that is mined for one of the elements it contains, usually a metal element

Organic chemistry

the study of the carbon compounds

Oxidizing agent

a chemical substance that gives up or takes on electrons from another substance

Ozone

a form of oxygen that filters out harmful radiation from the sun

P

Particle accelerator ("atom smasher")

a device used to cause small particles, such as protons, to move at very high speeds

Periodic law

a way of organizing the chemical elements to show how they are related to each other

Periodic table

a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other

Phosphor

a material that gives off light when struck by electrons

Photosynthesis

the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide and water to carbohydrates (starches and sugars)

Platinum family

a group of elements that occur close to platinum in the periodic table and with platinum in the Earth's surface

Polymerization

the process by which many thousands of individual tetrafluoroethlylene (TFE) molecules join together to make one very large molecule

Potash

a potassium compound that forms when wood burns

Precious metal

a metal that is rare, desirable, and, therefore, expensive

Proteins

compounds that are vital to the building and growth of cells

Pyrophoric

gives off sparks when scatched

Q

Quarry

a large hole in the ground from which useful minerals are taken

R

Radiation

energy transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves or subatomic particles

Radioactive isotope

an isotope that breaks apart and gives off some form of radiation

Radiactive tracer

an isotope whose movement in the body can be followed because of the radiation it gives off

Radioactivity

the process by which an isotope element breaks down and gives off some form of radiation

Rare earth elements

see Lanthanide family

Reactive

combines with other substances relatively easily

Refractory

a material that can withstand very high temperatures and reflects heat back away from itself

Rodenticide

a poison used to kill rats and mice

Rusting

a process by which a metal combines with oxygen

S

Salt dome

a large mass of salt found underground

Semiconductor

a material that conducts an electric current, but not nearly as well as metals

Silver plating

a process by which a very thin layer of silver metal is laid down on top of another metal

Slag

a mixture of materials that separates from a metal during its purification and floats on top of the molten metal

Slurry

a soup-like mixture of crushed ore and water

Solder

an alloy that can be melted and then used to join two metals to each other

Spectra

the lines produced when chemical elements are heated

Spectroscope

A device for analyzing the light produced when an element is heated

Spectroscopy

the process of analyzing light produced when an element is heated

Spectrum

(plural: spectra) the pattern of light given off by a glowing object, such as a star

Stable

not likely to react with other materials

Sublimation

the process by which a solid changes directly to a gas when heated, without first changing to a liquid

Superalloy

an alloy made of iron, cobalt, or nickel that has special properties, such as the ability to withstand high temperatures and attack by oxygen

Superconductivity

the tendency of an electric current to flow through a material without resistance

Superconductor

a material that has no resistance to the flow of electricity; once an electrical current begins flowing in the material, it continues to flow foreover

Superheated water

water that is hotter than its boiling point, but which has not started to boil

Surface tension

a property of liquids that makes them act like they are covered with a skin

T

Tarnishing

oxidizing; reacting with oxygen in the air

Tensile

capable of being stretched without breaking

Thermocouple

a device for measuring very high temperatures

Tin cry

a screeching-like sound made when tin metal is bent

Tin disease

a change that takes place in materials containing tin when the material is cooled to temperatures below 13°C for long periods of time, when solid tin turns to a crumbly powder

Tincture

a solution made by dissolving a substance in alcohol

Template

a type of metal consisting of thin protective coating of tin deposited on the outer surface of some other metal

Toxic

poisonous

Trace element

an element that is needed in very small amounts for the proper growth of a plant or animal

Tracer

a radioactive isotope whose presence in a system can easily be detected

Transfermium element

any element with an atomic number greater than 100

Transistor

a device used to control the flow of electricity in a circuit

Transiiton metal

an element in Groups 3 through 12 of the periodic table

Transuranium element

an element with an atomic number greater than 92

U

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation

electromagnetic radiation (energy) of a wavelength just shorter than the violet (shortest wavelength) end of the visible light spectrum and thus with higher energy than visible light

V

Vulcanizing

the process by which soft rubber is converted to a harder, long-lasting product

W

Workability

the ability to work with a metal to get it into a desired shape or thickness