constant

constant
A quantity that, under stated conditions, does not vary with changes in the environment.
- association c. 1. in experimental immunology, a mathematical expression of hapten-antibody interaction : average association c., K = [hapten-bound antibody]/[free antibody][free hapten]; 2. (Ka) the equilibrium c. involved in the association of two or more compounds or ions into a new compound; the reciprocal of the dissociation c.. SYN: binding c..
- Avogadro c. SYN: Avogadro number.
- binding c. SYN: association c..
- decay c. the fractional change in the number of atoms of a radionuclide that occurs in unit time; the c. λ in the equation for the fraction (dN/N) of the number of atoms (N) of a radionuclide disintegrating in time dt, dN/N = −λdt. SYN: disintegration c., radioactive c., transformation c..
- diffusion c. SYN: diffusion coefficient.
- disintegration c. SYN: decay c..
- dissociation c. (Kd, K) the equilibrium c. involved in the dissociation of a compound into two or more compounds or ions. The reciprocal of the association c. (2).
- dissociation c. of an acid (Kd, Ka) expressed by the general equation [H+][A]/[HA] = Ka, where HA is the undissociated acid.
- dissociation c. of a base (Kb) expressed by the general equation [B+][OH]/[BOH] = Kb, where BOH is the undissociated base.
- dissociation c. of water expressed by the equation [H+][OH] = Kw = 10−14 at 25°C.
- equilibrium c. (Keq) in the reaction A + B ⇄ C + D at equilibrium ( i.e., no net change in concentrations of A, B, C, or D), the concentrations of the four components are related by the equation Keq = [C][D]/[A]; Keq is the equilibrium c. If any component in the reaction has a multiplier ( e.g., H2 ⇄ 2H), that multiplier appears as an exponent in the calculation of K ( e.g., Keq = [H]2/[H2]). When this equation is applied to the ionization of a substance in solution, Keq is called the dissociation c. (Kd) and its negative logarithm (base 10) is the pKd. SEE ALSO: Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, mass-action ratio.
- [b]Faraday c. (F) faraday.
- flotation c. (Sf) characteristic sedimentation behavior of a lipoprotein fraction of plasma in a centrifugal field in a medium of appropriate density, achieved by adding a salt or D2O to the plasma. SYN: negative S, Svedberg of flotation.
- gas c. (R) R = 8.314 × 107 ergs K−1 mol−1 = 8.314 J K−1 mol−1.
- Hill c. SYN: Hill coefficient.
- Michaelis c. 1. the true dissociation c. for the enzyme-substrate binary complex in a single-substrate rapid equilibrium enzyme-catalyzed reaction (usually symbolized by Ks); 2. the concentration of the substrate at which half the true maximum velocity of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction is achieved (when velocities are measured under initial rate and steady state conditions); the ratio of rate constants (k2 + k3)/k1 in the single-substrate enzyme-catalyzed reaction : E + S ⇄ ES ⇄ E + products where E represents the free enzyme, S is the substrate, and ES is the central binary complex. The expression for the Michaelis c. will be more complex for multisubstrate reactions. An apparent Michaelis c. is a c. determined either under conditions that are not strictly steady state and initial rate or one that varies with the concentration of one or more cosubstrates. See Michaelis-Menten equation. SYN: Michaelis-Menten c..
- Michaelis-Menten c. (Km) SYN: Michaelis c..
- Newtonian c. of gravitation (G) a universal c. relating the gravitational force, F, attracting two masses, m1 and m2, toward each other when they are separated by a distance, r, in the equation : F = G(m1m2/r2); it has the value of 6.67259 × 10−8 dyne cm2 g−2 = 6.67259 × 10−11 m3 kg−1 s−2 in SI units.
- permeability c. a measure of the ease with which an ion can cross a unit area of membrane driven by a 1.0 mol/L difference in concentration; usually expressed in centimeters per second. Cf.:permeability coefficient.
- Planck c. (h) a c., 6.6260755 × 10−34 J s or 6.6260755 × 10−27 erg-seconds = 6.6260755 × 10−34 J Hz−1.
- radioactive c. (Λ) SYN: decay c..
- rate constants (k) proportionality constants equal to the initial rate of a reaction divided by the concentration of the reactant(s); e.g., in the reaction A → B + C, the rate of the reaction equals −d[A]/dt = k1[A]. The rate c. k1 is a unimolecular rate c. since there is only one molecular species reacting and has units of reciprocal time ( e.g., s−1). For the reverse reaction, B + C → A, the rate equals −d/dt = d[A]/dt = k2[B][C]. The rate c. k2 is a bimolecular rate c. and has units of reciprocal concentration-time ( e.g., M−1 s−1). SYN: velocity constants.
- [b]sedimentation c. the c. s in Svedberg equation for estimating the molecular weight of a protein from the rate of movement in a centrifugal field :where M is the molecular weight, R the gas c., T the absolute temperature, D the diffusion c. (in square centimeters per second), V the partial specific volume of the protein, ρ the density of the solvent. The c. s, with dimensions of time per unit of field force (s = drb/dt ω2ro where rb is the position at time t, r0 is the position at time 0, and ω is the angular velocity) is usually between 1 × 10−13 and 200 × 10−13 s. The Svedberg unit (S) is arbitrarily set at 1 × 10−13 s and is very often used to describe the sedimentation rate of macromolecules; e.g., 4S RNA. SYN: sedimentation coefficient.
- specificity c. ratio of the maximum velocity (Vmax) or kcat to the true Km value for a specific substrate in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction.
- time c. that part of a circuit that determines the time interval over which the rate of electrical events will be averaged; in pulmonary physiology, the factors determining rate of flow in the airways.
- transformation c. SYN: decay c..
- velocity constants (k) SYN: rate constants.

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con·stant 'kän(t)-stənt adj remaining unchanged
con·stant·ly adv
constant n something invariable or unchanging esp a number that has a fixed value in a given situation or universally or that is characteristic of some substance or instrument

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con·stant (konґstənt) [L. constans standing together] 1. not failing; remaining unaltered. 2. a datum, fact, or principle that is not subject to change.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • CONSTANT — CONSTANT ANTON NIEUWENHUYS (1920 ) Peintre et sculpteur néerlandais. C’est à Constant que revient historiquement l’initiative de la fondation à Amsterdam, en 1948, du premier noyau d’artistes «expérimentaux». Il rédige et publie un manifeste où… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • constant — constant, ante (kon stan, stan t ) adj. 1°   Qui a de la constance. Constant en amitié. •   Dans leur juste haine animés et constants, CORN. Héracl. V, 6. •   Le peuple romain a été le plus constant dans ses maximes, BOSSUET Hist. III, 6. •   Ah… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Constant — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Constant (Maler) (eigtl. Constant Anton Nieuwenhuys; 1920–2005), niederländischer Maler und Bildhauer Alexandre Constant (1829–1901), Zoologe Benjamin Constant (eigtl. Henri Benjamin Constant de Rebecque;… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • CONSTANT (B.) — Appartenant par sa formation à l’époque des Lumières, par sa carrière au XIXe siècle, Benjamin Constant est l’un des représentants les plus illustres et les plus controversés de cette période charnière. Témoin privilégié des bouleversements… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Constant — or The Constant may refer to: Contents 1 In Mathematics 2 Other concepts 3 People 4 Organization 5 …   Wikipedia

  • constant — CONSTANT, ANTE. adj. Qui a de la constance, de la fermeté dans le malheur, dans les douleurs. Il a montré une âme constante dans les plus grands maux. Constant dans les tourmens. Corstant dans son mal. Il est ferme et constant dans l adversité.… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Constant — Con stant, n. 1. That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable. [1913 Webster] 2. (Math.) A quantity that does not change its value; used in countradistinction to {variable}. [1913 Webster] 3. (Astron.) A number whose value, when… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Constant — Con stant (k[o^]n stant), a. [L. onstans, antis, p. pr. of constare to stand firm, to be consistent; con + stare to stand: cf. F. constant. See {Stand} and cf. {Cost}, v. t.] 1. Firm; solid; fixed; immovable; opposed to {fluid}. [Obs.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • constant — ≠ fluctuant, inconstant, instabil, neconstant, oscilant, schimbător, variabil, variat, muabil, nestatornic Trimis de siveco, 03.08.2004. Sursa: Antonime  CONSTANTA LUI PLÁNCK s. (fiz.) cuantă de acţiune. Trimis de siveco, 05.08.2004. Sursa:… …   Dicționar Român

  • CONSTANT (M.) — CONSTANT MARIUS (1925 ) Après des études musicales, suivies à Bucarest où il est né (d’un père français et d’une mère roumaine), et une formation d’abord influencée par le romantisme allemand, Marius Constant reçoit à Paris, où il se fixe en 1945 …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • constant — Constant, Constans, Stabilis. Estre constant, Substare, Obtinere firmitudinem animi. Gendre constant et arresté, Firmus gener. Un homme constant pardonne bien aucunefois, Locus ignoscendi est etiam apud hominem constantem. Qui n est point… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

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