- equivalent
- 1. Equal in any respect. 2. That which is equal in size, weight, force, or any other quality to something else. 3. Having the capability to counterbalance or neutralize each other. 4. Having equal valencies. 5. SYN: gram e.. [see equivalence]- gold e. a unit of power of the protective colloids; the number of milligrams of protective colloid just sufficient to prevent the precipitation of 10 ml of a 0.0053–0.0058% gold solution by the action of 1 ml of a 10% sodium chloride solution. SYN: gold number.- gram e. 1. the weight in grams of an element that combines with or replaces 1 g of hydrogen; 2. the atomic or molecular weight in grams of an atom or group of atoms involved in a chemical reaction divided by the number of electrons donated, taken up, or shared by the atom or group of atoms in the course of that reaction; 3. the weight of a substance contained in 1 L of 1 n solution; a variant of (1). SYN: combining weight, e. weight, e. (5).- Joule e. (J) the dynamic e. of heat; the amount of work converted to heat that will raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1°F is 778 foot-pounds; in metric units, 1 calorie, which raises 1 g of water 1°C, equals 4.184 × 107 dyne-centimeters, or 4.184 J.- lethal e. 1. a combination of selective effects that on average have the same impact on the composition of the gene pool as one death; e.g., two carriers at 50% risk of dying would be the lethal e. of one carrier at 100% risk; 2. in the population genetics of recessive traits lethal e. is expressed as twice the sum of the expected number of deaths ascribable to the genetic load. 3. expression used of the genetic load of recessive genes in heterozygous state that if in homozygous state would cause death or carry a risk of death. The expected number of deaths from all such genes is expressed in lethal e..- metabolic e. (MET) the oxygen cost of energy expenditure measured at supine rest (1 MET = 3.5 ml O2 per kg of body weight per minute); multiples of MET are used to estimate the oxygen cost of activity, e.g., 3–5 METs for light work; more than 9 METs for heavy work.- nitrogen e. the nitrogen content of protein; used in calculating the protein breakdown in the body from the nitrogen excreted in the urine, 1 g of nitrogen considered as having originated in 6.25 g of protein catabolized.- starch e. the amount of oxygen consumed in the combustion of a given weight of fat as compared with that consumed in the combustion of an equal weight of starch; the figure is about 2.38, that for starch being taken as 1.- toxic e. the amount of toxin or other poison per kilogram of body weight necessary to kill an animal.
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equiv·a·lent -lənt adj1) corresponding or virtually identical esp. in effect or function <drugs that are therapeutically \equivalent>2) having the same chemical combining capacity <\equivalent quantities of two elements>equivalent n1 a) the relative weight of an element that has the same combining capacity as a given weight of another element: the atomic weight divided by the valenceb) the relative weight of a radical or compound that combines with a given weight of an element, radical, or compound esp the weight of a compound that reacts with one equivalent of a given chemical element2) a psychopathological symptom replacing the usual one in a given disorder <a twilight state may be an epileptic \equivalent>* * *
equiv·a·lent (e-kwivґə-lent) [L. aequivalens, from aequus equal + valere to be worth] 1. having the same value; neutralizing or counterbalancing each other. 2. something that is essentially equal to another, or can take its place entirely. 3. equivalent weight; see under weight.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
