Related Words

Declaratory Relief Action: An action to have a court determine the rights of parties before a violation of rights has occurred.

Reaction Formation: A defense mechanism, operating unconsciously, in which a person adopts affects, ideas, and behaviours that are the opposites of impulses harboured either consciously or unconsciously. For ex . . . View Full Definition

Reaction Mechanism: A list of all elementary reactions that occur in the course of an overall chemical reaction.

Reaction Quotient: The product of the concentrations of the products, divided by the product of the concentrations of the reactants, for a chemical reaction which is not necessarily at equilibrium. For example . . . View Full Definition

Reaction: A decline in prices following an advance. Opposite of rally.

Rarefaction: In sound waves, the opposite of compression. An area of decreased air pressure caused by a sound wave. In a graphical depiction of a cyclical waveform rarefaction occurs when the wave is in . . . View Full Definition

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): A method of amplifying or copying DNA fragments that is faster than cloning. The fragments are combined with DNA polymerase, nucleotides, and other components to form a mixture in which the . . . View Full Definition

Pressure Relief Valve: A valve used on hot water heating appliances to help keep the pressure in the heated tank or boiler from getting too high by allowing the relief of pressure from the valve.

Pressure Relief Valve (PRV): A device mounted on a hot water heater or boiler which is designed to release any high steam pressure in the tank to prevent tank explosions.

Reaction Rate: A reaction rate is the speed at which reactants are converted into products in a chemical reaction. The reaction rate is given as the instantaneous rate of change for any reactant or product . . . View Full Definition