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VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Chemistry => Topic started by: William1103 on February 17, 2018, 02:09:34 pm

Title: What exactly does 'relatively' mean?
Post by: William1103 on February 17, 2018, 02:09:34 pm

I've noticed the word 'relatively'  used quite often throughout the first few chapters (chemistry 1/2). What exactly does it mean or refer to?
For instance:
- Most metals exhibit a range of melting points and relatively high boiling points
- Titanium is a relatively unreactive metal
- The elements in group 1 are relatively soft metals
- Iron obtained directly from a blast furnace is relatively brittle and corrodes easily

Google defines relatively as: 'in relation, comparison, or proportion to something else' but i'm still unclear of how the word fits into these contexts. Thanks :)

Title: Re: What exactly does 'relatively' mean?
Post by: jamonwindeyer on February 17, 2018, 02:15:48 pm

Howdy! Replace it with fairly, so in that first context, "relatively high boiling points" means boiling points that are high, but not that high.

More specifically (and more correctly), it means when compared to other things in a similar group. For example:

Titanium is a relatively unreactive metal

Means, when compared to other metals, it's not that reactive :)

Title: Re: What exactly does 'relatively' mean?
Post by: William1103 on February 17, 2018, 02:24:48 pm

That makes more sense now, thanks!