
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 reaction | Definition, Equations, Examples, & Types - Britannica
3 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.
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 …
Lead | Definition, Uses, Properties, & Facts | Britannica
Jan 7, 2026 · What is lead as a chemical element? What does lead look like and what is its symbol on the periodic table? Where is lead found in nature? What are some uses of lead in everyday life?
Hydrogen | Properties, Uses, & Facts | Britannica
Dec 7, 2025 · The earliest known important chemical property of hydrogen is that it burns with oxygen to form water, H 2 O; indeed, the name hydrogen is derived from Greek words meaning “maker of water.”
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; …