equivalent; equivalent weight
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
equivalent; a quantity corresponding to a standard quantity in science and technology
Used in physics, chemistry, and engineering to express relative quantities such as explosive yield, heat equivalents, or mechanical equivalents.
The equivalent yield of this nuclear bomb is equivalent to one hundred thousand tons of TNT.
The mechanical equivalent of heat is an important constant in physics.
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The engineer is calculating the load-bearing equivalent of this bridge.
noun
chemical equivalent; equivalent weight
technicalHistorical term used before the concept of 'amount of substance' (moles) was established to represent the combining capacity of elements or compounds in chemical reactions. Now largely replaced by molar quantities.
In early chemical literature, equivalent weight was frequently used to represent the proportions of substances participating in reactions.
Normality is an old method of expressing concentration that has now been replaced by molarity.
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The equivalent weight of oxygen is eight, meaning eight grams of oxygen can react completely with one gram of hydrogen.