
Chemical Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
CHEMICAL meaning: 1 : of or relating to chemistry; 2 : working by means of chemicals
Chemical compound | Definition, Examples, & Types | Britannica
Dec 16, 2025 · All the matter in the universe is composed of the atoms of more than 100 different chemical elements, which are found both in pure form and combined in chemical compounds.
Chemistry | Definition, Topics, Types, History, & Facts | Britannica
Dec 26, 2025 · Cooking, fermentation, glass making, and metallurgy are all chemical processes that date from the beginnings of civilization. Today, vinyl, Teflon, liquid crystals, semiconductors, and …
Chemical element | Definition, Origins, Distribution, & Facts - Britannica
Jan 9, 2026 · A chemical element is any substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical processes. Elements are the fundamental materials of which all matter is …
Chemical reaction | Definition, Equations, Examples, & Types - Britannica
4 days ago · Substances are either chemical elements or compounds. A chemical reaction rearranges the constituent atoms of the reactants to create different substances as products.
Salt | Chemistry, History, Occurrence, Manufacture, Uses, & Facts ...
Jan 8, 2026 · In the chemical industry, salt is required in the manufacture of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), hydrochloric acid, chlorine, and many other chemicals.
Gold | Facts, Properties, & Uses | Britannica
Dec 30, 2025 · gold (Au), chemical element, a dense lustrous yellow precious metal of Group 11 (Ib), Period 6, of the periodic table of the elements. Gold has several qualities that have made it …
Cellular respiration | Definition, Equation, Cycle, Process, Reactants ...
Jan 9, 2026 · Cellular respiration, the process by which organisms combine oxygen with foodstuff molecules, diverting the chemical energy in these substances into life-sustaining activities and …
Chemical industry | Overview, Importance, & History | Britannica
Dec 5, 2025 · Chemical industry, complex of processes, operations, and organizations engaged in the manufacture of chemicals and their derivatives. Raw materials include fossil fuels and inorganic …
Boron | Properties, Uses, & Facts | Britannica
Jan 9, 2026 · Boron, chemical element that is a semimetal essential to plant growth and of wide industrial application. Typical effects of long-term boron deficiency are stunted, misshapen growth; …