Primjena specijalne teorije relativnosti u kemiji nije česta; potreba za njom javlja se tek pri proračunu svojstava teških atoma, u kojima se elektroni gibaju relativističkim brzinama. U članku su dati primjeri objašnjenja osebujne boje zlata, niskog tališta žive, boje bizmutovih i olovnih spojeva, utjecaja relativističke korekcije na proračun oblika klastera zlata, duljine veza u spojevima 11. skupine i lantanoida te napona olovnog akumulatora i baterije Zn/HgO. Usto su prikazane osnove specijalne teorije relativnosti i kvantne kemije.; Application of Einsteinʹs special theory of relativity in chemistry seems to be superfluous; energies are too low. The average velocity of electron in hydrogen atom (1s1) is 1/135 c, making its actual mass only 26,6 ppm larger than the rest of the mass. However, for heavier elements (about Z > 60), relativistic effects have to be taken into account and, more than that, many phenomena cannot be explained without ascribing a new mass to electrons, in accordance with Einsteinʹs theory. In this paper, such phenomena are described: colour of metallic gold and Bi and Pb compounds, low melting point of mercury, contraction of Ln-X bond of lanthanoide trihalides, voltage of lead-acid and Zn/HgO battery, and the shape of gold clusters. In addition, essentials of Einsteinʹs theory and quantum chemistry are presented, as well as the problems concerning the validity of Lavoisierʹs law.
Sažetak