English for chemists

Section П
Упр. 1. Прочтите заголовок текста 7 В. Скажите, знаете ли вы что-ннбудь по этому вопрос}'.
Упр. 2. Назовите значения следующих интернациональных слов:
essential, primitive, oiganism, normal, laboratoiy, calcium, associate, mineralization, physiological, function, phosphorus, vitamin, vanadium, effect, pigmentation, observation, support, cfTcctivc, litre, evolution, skeletal, role, toxicity

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Упр. 3. Определите значения выделенных слов по контексту. Сино­ нимы в скобках помогут вам.
1. Until now there has been no />roq/“(evidcncc) for the importance of silicon in the life of animals or men. 2. Silicon is required (necessary) for normal growth of living beings. 3. Previous (early) laboratory studies showed several ways of obtaining hydrogen. 4. In the earliest stages (steps) of calcification in bones their calcium content (amount of calcium) is very low. 5. When a reaction proceeds quickly, wc usually say that its rate is high. 6. The symbols for magnesium and fluorine arc Mg and F. 7. Other observations support the previous conclusion that silicon is essential. 8. Silicon is present in animal matter in small quantities. 9. Two is the average between 1 and 3.
Слова к текст)':
vital — жизненный; except — кроме; suggest — наводить на мысль; bone— кость; especially—особенно; plant—растение; egg—яйцо; bird — птица; appreciable — ощутимый; implications (pi.) — толкования; parti­ cipant —участник
Text 7 В
Прочтите текст про себя (контрольное время чтения — 6 минут).
Silicon: an Essential Element for Life Processes
Until now there has been no proof that silicon plays any definite role in vital processes in animals or men. Scientists believed that it was noncssential except in certain primitive organisms. But later it was shown that silicon is required for normal growth and development of living beings.
Previous laboratory studies had suggested a possible role for silicon in bone formation, especially in young bone. In the earliest stages of calcification in bones, when their calcium content is very low, there is a direct relationship between silicon and calcium. Silicon is associated with calcium and increases the rate of bone mineralization. A relation has also been established between silicon, magnesium and fluorine in the formation of bones.
Some studies have also suggested the possibility that silicon has a physiological function. In addition to calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and certain vitamins, silicon, along with tin, vanadium, and fluorine, has an cfTcct of pigmentation.
Other observations support the previous conclusion that silicon is essential. The level of silicon effective for normal growth and devel­ opment is of the order that is present in plant and animal food-stufT. Silicon is present in animal matter. The eggs of birds and milk have small but appreciable quantities. The blood of man averages about 5 mg of silicon per litre.

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The discovery of the essential role of silicon in life processes has many implications, first, from an cvolutionaiy point of view, since silica performs a skeletal role in some primitive organisms, and, second, because, although great importance has been attached to the study of toxicity of silica, it has also been found that silicon itself can be considered as an important participant in normal metabolism.
Упр. 4. Скажите, узнали ли вы что-ниб>дь новое о кремнии. Что именно?
Упр. 5. Разделите текст на тематические части и озаглавьте каж­ дую часть.
Упр. б. Скажите, что говорится в тексте:
1) о роли кремния в жизни живых организмов; 2) о физиологиче­ ской функции кремния; 3) о том, какое количество кремния необходи­ мо для нормального роста н развития; 4) о функции кремния в образо­ вании костей.
Упр. 7. Найдите в тексте и переведите на русский язык предложения, гас приводятся толкования роли кремния в жизненных процессах.