English for chemists

Lesson 15
ГРАММАТИКА: Некоторые особенности перевода на русский язык обо­ рота «именительный падеж с инфинитивом». Оборот «именительный падеж с причастием, прилагательным, числительным».
Section I
Ex. 1. Practise your pronunciation.
a) physicist ['fizisist], previously ['pri:vjasli], among [э'тлр], weight (weit], aggregate fxgngot], encyclopaedia [in.saikb'pirdio], distinguish [dis'tiggwij], although [э:Гдэо], unchallengeable [лпЧ/<е1|П(1зэЫ], predecessor ['pri.discso], half [ho:f], precise [pri'sats]

2. 
   'calledjheNparticles, ‘thesc\particles, the„'GrcekSword, thc^'rapid Nprogress, isu wellJllusStrated, injhe^'earlySycars, 'endsuwithytheSwords, thought^that, arc^inN'favour, injavouruof^the\theory, half^a^'centuryMater
   

2. 
   /'Now | we have pre'cisc knowledge | of the 'structure and 'properties | of 'atoms and Nmolecules.
   

105

Ex. 2. Pay attention to the structure оГ the following words. Translate them into Russian:
a) 'extract — ex'tract, 'progress — progress, 'import — import, 'export — cx'port, 'increase — in'crcasc, 'present — pre'scnt, 'com­ pound — com'pound, prc'cipitatc — prccipi'tatc

2. 
   physics, mathematics, economics, dynamics, electronics
   

2. 
   irregular, irrespective, irrational, irrccognizablc, irreligious, irremovable, irreplaceable
   

Ex. 3. Define the meanings of the word about in the following sentences:

1. Our knowledge about atoms greatly increased during the twentieth century. 2. The student was about to comc into the room when I stopped him. 3. A theory usually involves some idea about the nature of some part of the Universe. 4. The mixture is about to explode, stop heating it. 5. At what time do you usually get up? — At about 7. 6. They were about to leave when the telephone rang. 7. The Mendeleyev system has served for about a century as a key to discovering new elements. S. About one-fifth of the air by volume is oxygen. 9. Ibcrc is nothing special about this proccss. 10. You know too little about selenium.
Ex. 4. Find the predicate and the subject in the following sentences:
1. As it was verified by further work in chcmistry and physics, Dalton’s atomic hypothesis became the atomic theory. 2. In the early years of the twentieth century, atoms were defined as the imaginary units. 3. It has more than once happened in the history of science that a hypothesis has been abandoned.
Text 15 A
The Atomic Theory
In 1805 the English chemist and physicist John Dalton (1766-1844) put forward the hypothesis according to which all substanccs were stated to consist of small particles of matter, of several different kinds, corresponding to the different elements. He callcd these particles atoms, from the Greek word atomos, meaning “indivisible”. This hypothesis gave a simple explanation or picture of previously observed but unsatisfactorily explained relations among the weights of substances taking part in chcmical reactions with one another. As it was verified by further work in chemistry and physics, Dalton’s atomic hypothesis became the atomic theory.
The rapid progress of science during the twentieth century is well illustrated by the increase in our knowledge about atoms. In a popular textbook of chcmistry written in the early years of the twentieth century, atoms were defined to be the “imaginary units” of which bodies arc ''aggregates. The article in “Atom” in the 11th edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, published in 1910, ends with the words “The atomic theory

106

has been of priceless value to chcmists, but it has more than once happened in the history of science that a hypothesis, after having been useful in the discovery and the coordination of knowledge, has been abandoned and replaced by one more in harmony with later discoveries. Some distinguished chcmists thought that this fate may be awaiting the atomic theory... But modem discoveries in radioactivity are in favour of the existence of the atom, although they lead to the belief that the atom is likely to be not so eternal and unchangeable a thing as Dalton and his predecessors had imagined”.

Only half a ccntuiy later, scientists had precise knowledge of the struc­ ture and properties of atoms and molecules. Atoms and molecules can no longer be considered “imaginary”.

Words and Word-Combinations to Be Memorized
article, current, define, distinguish, explanation, in favour of, illustrate, increase, no longer, more than once, physicist, physics, popular, precise, previously, price, priceless, progress, put forward, radioactivity, rapid, replace, satisfactory, useful, be of value
Ex. 5. Give the Russian equivalents for the following:
put forward a hypothesis, according to the atomic theory, give an explanation, previously observed relations, by further work, rapid progress, during the current century, be illustrated by smth., imaginary units, be of value, replace a hypothesis by a theory, a distinguished chemist, discoveries in radioactivity, be in favour of smth., imagine, have precise knowledge, no longer
Ex. 6. Give the English equivalents for the following:
выдвинуть идею, согласно теории, дать простое объяснение, объяснить факт, принять участие в реакции, друг с другом, попу­ лярная книга, третье издание, опубликовать статью, заменить одну идею другой, выдающийся ученый, доводы в пользу гипотезы, спу­ стя полстолстия, больше не может рассматриваться, увеличение ра­ диоактивности, не один раз, ранее неизвестная величина, быстрое развитие
Ex. 7. Fill in the blanks with prepositions where necessary.
1. Dalton's theory was put... 1805.2. The hypothesis could not explain
... relations... the weights... substanccs taking part... chcmical reactions. 3. The atomic theory is ... priceless value ... chcmists. 4. Modem discoveries... radioactivity arc ... the existence... the atom. 5. Half... a century later the atomic structure became clear. 6. The atomic theory is useful... the coordination ... knowledge. 7. Dalton’s atomic hypothesis was verified ... further work ... chcmistry and physics.

107

Ex. 8. Translate the scntcnccs into Russian paying attention to different functions offor.
1. The atomic theory was of great value fo r further development of science. 2. Dalton’s hypothesis became the atomic theory, fo r it was verified by later discoveries. 3. For this reason the hypothesis'was replaced by another one. 4. This technique is recommended to be used, fo r it is very accurate. 5. Argon and other gases of this group arc callcd inert, fo r they are chemically inactive. 6 . The theory hasn’t been recognized fo r almost a century.
Ex. 9. Translate the sentences into Russian.
a) 1. Dalton’s hypothesis was later proved to be true. 2. Fundamental particles arc no longer considered to be non-existent. 3. Radioactivity is known to be affected by the presence of other elements which are not radioactive. 4. Air was later found not to be an element. 5. Hydrogen docs not appear to react quickly with chlorinc in the dark. 6. Pure liquid HC1 docs not seem to be conductor of electricity. 7. Under certain conditions an atom of hydrogen may be regarded to be acting as a bond. 8. There appears to be no difficulty in determining the rate of this reaction. 9. There seems to be no evidence in favour of your idea. 10. The phenomenon has never been observed to occur under ordinary conditions. 11. Chlorinc is stated to have been discovered in 1774.12. Solid carbon is usually said to exist in three modifications. 13. Mendeleyev is known to have been bom in Tobolsk. 14. The law of conservation of mass is known to have been definitely stated by the great Russian scientist М. V. Lomonosov in 1756. IS. H2S04 docs not appear to have been known to the ancient world.
b) 1. The symbol H2SO4 is interpreted as representing one molcculc of sulphuric acid. 2. Acids arc usually thought of as being liquids. 3. According to the atomic theory, a molcculc is considered as being composed of atoms. 4. The periodic classification should be mentioned as having been the principal discovery of the 19th century. 5. A nucleus is now regarded as being composed of fundamental particles. 6. All substanccs may be regarded as soluble in water. 7. Atoms arc no longer considered “imaginary”. 8. The valency of carbon is usually thought of as four. 9. Water is known as composed of two elements: hydrogen and oxygen. 10. Substanccs arc usually defined as having a definite composition.
Ex. 10. Translate the sentences into English.
1. Джои Дальтон был химиком и физиком. 2. Он жил в Англии с 1766 по 1844 год. 3. Более всего он известен своем атомистической теорией. 4. Дальтон выдвинул свою теорию строения элементов в 180S году. 5. Эта теория была подтверждена дальнейшими исследова­ ниями. б. Позднее она была развита в соответствии с современными исследованиями. 7. Современная наука располагает точными знания­ ми о структуре и свойствах атомов и молекул. 8. Теперь никто больше не может утверждать, что структура и состав атомов неизвестны.

108

Ex. 11. Answer the following questions:
1. When was Dalton’s atomic hypothesis put forward? 2. What was the main idea of this hypothesis? 3. In what way was the hypothesis verified? 4. What docs sometimes happen to a hypothesis in the coursc of history? S. Was Dalton’s hypothesis forgotten later? 6. What do modem scientists think about Dalton’s theory?