Comments on: Chemical Language Translated

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:43:59 +0000

I think in most lay contexts, the “unchanging-ness” is irrelevant, but perhaps a simple, single word could come from a lay definition – motivator. It does what it says on the tin and most people don’t think of a motivator as being “changed” at the end of the motivational process.

By: Daniel Sobral

Daniel Sobral — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:08:47 +0000

Actually, I’d say the following of catalyst:

catalyst = makes things (reactions) easier/possible

It has the advantage of being the actual usage outside chemistry. Would a layman assume a catalyst gets consumed (and thus need the explanation it regenerates)? And does “speeds up” convey the full significance of the presence (or not) of a catalyst?

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 20:34:01 +0000

Andrew, you’ve hit the nail on the head. It’s all about knowing one’s audience. Who’s to say who is and who isn’t a lay person, after all? Is a molecular biologist a lay person when it comes to particle physics and vice versa, for instance?

By: Andrew Sun

Andrew Sun — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:48:32 +0000

The definition of catalyst by Harmon although longer is better. ‘…while regenerating itself to do it again’–cool! It makes clear what’s mistaken even by some professionals that catalyst does not stay intact throughout the process although it looks so at the beginning and end.

Definitions for layman should be useful by layman. When layman is (forced maybe) adding some catalyst to their reaction they can say they are adding something that “speeds up … again’, or simply, ‘reaction promoter’ . And when a layman see something sublimed they can say it just evaporated without being melted. But when a layman is playing polymer clay can they be satisfied by saying they are actually playing chains of molecules? or some long molecules, no matter what’s repeated in them? I mean when you define something for laymen you should define the FORM of that thing that laymen most likely contact with.

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:48:55 +0000

CMC Guy, thanks for those additional definitions. Reaction promoter kind of sounds like some sort of public relations person who deliberately provokes celebrities to get them into the tabloids ;-)

By: CMC guy

CMC guy — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:09:17 +0000

Indeed a good list to convey meanings for examples of jargon

Simplier Possibilities:

Polymers = chains of molecules
sublime = solid changes directly to gas
catalyst = reaction promoter

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:39:11 +0000

Nice definitions Harmon, I’m going to have to come up with a few more chemical keywords that need simple definitions and perhaps create a tech to lay glossary…

By: Harmon

Harmon — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:53:02 +0000

Polymer = long molecule made of linked repeating subunits
sublime = evaporate a solid (without melting it)
catalyst = substance that speeds up a reaction while regenerating itself to do it again