gram equivalent
- noun
- /ɡræm ɪˈkwɪvələnt/
- Specialized
:
equivalente gramo
- One gram equivalent of a substance contains the same amount of reactive units as one gram of hydrogen.
Examples
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The teacher explained that a gram equivalent is based on the substance's molecular weight and its valence.
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In a chemical reaction, two gram equivalents of reactants are required to completely react with one gram equivalent of oxygen.
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Roughly 96,500 coulombs (amperes/second) will deposit one gram equivalent weight of metal.
Blog text (17)
Synonyms
9
8.1
An amount of a substance that reacts with a set amount of another
1
8.1
Amount of a substance that reacts with a fixed amount of another substance
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward composition of 'gram' (a unit of mass) and 'equivalent' (an amount with the same combining power), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to an equivalent expressed in grams. Although the full chemical details (valence, specific reference masses) are technical, the basic meaning — an equivalent measured in grams — is directly derivable from the constituents and follows a regular noun + modifier pattern.
Etymology
Gram equivalent comes from old chemistry: a gram is a unit of weight and an equivalent is the amount that 'matches' a fixed amount of another substance, like 8 grams of oxygen or 1.008 grams of hydrogen. So, a gram equivalent is the mass that will 'react' or 'combine' with that fixed amount, helping chemists know how much of a substance is needed.