Тeхт 3а. Kurchatovium аnd some other new elements

As early as in 1940, physicists learned to manufacture elements with atoms more complicated than those of uranium, with its atomic number 92. By 1960 ten of these elements, from 93 to 102 had been formed. One way of forming them was to bombard at atoms of elements already produced with small atomic nuclei.

Previous elements that had been synthesized had been named after scientists whose work had significance in nuclear science. Element 99 is einsteinium named after Einstein, who was the first to show that mass could be converted to energy; 101 is mendelevium named after Mendeleyev, who first developed the periodic table of elements.

In 1965 a group of Soviet scientists bombarded plutonium (94) with nuclei of neon (10) and obtained 104, which they named kurchatovium after Kurchatov, a well-known Soviet nuclear physicist.

Scientists in Dubna synthesized a new element which occupies position 106 in Mendeleyev’s Table.

This element had a life of about a hundredth of a second, but that was much longer than had been expected.

The synthesis of the element increased our knowledge about the properties of the heaviest nuclei and pointed the way to new methods of obtaining them.

Assignment 16. Point out the paragraph which expresses the main idea of Text 3А. .

Assignment 17. Rearrange the sentences to make a summary of the text.

1) The synthesis of the elements pointed out the way of obtaining new elements.

2) Physicists learned to manufacture elements with complicated atoms.

3) Soviet scientists in Dubna bombarded plutonium and obtained 104 which they named kurchatovium after Kurchatov, a well-known Soviet nuclear physicist.

4) Several synthesized elements had been named after outstanding scientists.

UNIT FOUR

Grammar: The Gerund

Assignment 1. Remember the following words and word-combinations:

lightning flash manifestation indeed thunderstorm spark thunder to strike to destroy dangerous phenomenon to invent god to throw hammer thrower powerful property like to discharge to charge to protect conductor therefore to provide path to conduct achievement own observation danger measuring device

молния вспышка проявление действительно, в самом деле гроза искра гром ударять(ся); попадать разрушать опасный явление изобретать бог бросать молоток, молот метатель мощный свойство подобный, похожий, как разряжать заряжать защищать проводник поэтому, следовательно снабжать, обеспечивать путь проводить достижение свой собственный наблюдение опасность измерительное устройство

Assignment 2. Practice the pronunciation of the following words:

lightning, manifestation, although, thunderstorm, atmospheric electricity, phenomenon (phenomena), imagine, numerous, thrower, Thursday, scientific, result from, discharge, either … or, earth, kilometre, danger, dangerous, high, conductor, therefore, necessary, observation, measuring, professor.

Assignment 3. Translate the words, their derivatives into Russian and learn them.

to achieve – achievement – achievable; to charge – charge – chargeable – to discharge – to recharge; to conduct – conduction – conductive – conductivity – conductor; danger –dangerous – dangerously; to number – number – numberless – numerable – numerical – numerically – numerous; to measure – measurement – measurable – measuring; to observe – observation – observer – observable; to protect – protection – protective – protector; science – scientist – scientific – scientifically.

Assignment 4. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the Gerund.

1) Learning English is not an easy thing.

2) His friend began learning the English language.

3) Studying natural phenomena without making observations is useless.

4) There are many methods of solving this problem.

5) On coming home my father began watching television.

6) Russian scientists played an important part in solving the problem of atmospheric electricity.

7) On splitting atoms in the reactor heat is developed.

8) Seeing is believing.

Assignment 5. Read and translate the text: