6. Glossary

Passivation; passivation

A phenomenon in which an oxide film forms spontaneously in air on the surface of a metal. This layer isolates the metal, in its zero-oxidation state, from the external environment, slowing down the processes in which it might be involved, hence the term passivation.

Genotoxic; genotoxic

A substance is said to be genotoxic when it can compromise the physical (chromosomal breakage) or functional integrity of the genome.

Calorimetry; calorimétrie

Calorimetry is the part of thermodynamics concerned with measuring heat quantities. A calorimeter is used for this purpose. A chemical reaction with a negative enthalpy of reaction is said to be exothermic, since it releases heat into the environment.

Exothermic; exothermique...