
Chemical Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
CHEMICAL meaning: 1 : of or relating to chemistry; 2 : working by means of chemicals
Chemistry | Definition, Topics, Types, History, & Facts | Britannica
Feb 3, 2026 · 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
Feb 19, 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 …
Chemical compound | Definition, Examples, & Types | Britannica
Feb 10, 2026 · 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.
Chemical synthesis | Organic & Inorganic Reactions | Britannica
Chemical compounds are made up of atoms of different elements, joined together by chemical bonds. A chemical synthesis usually involves the breaking of existing bonds and the formation of new ones.
Chemical reaction | Definition, Equations, Examples, & Types - Britannica
Jan 13, 2026 · Substances are either chemical elements or compounds. A chemical reaction rearranges the constituent atoms of the reactants to create different substances as products.
Sodium | Facts, Uses, & Properties | Britannica
Feb 9, 2026 · sodium (Na), chemical element of the alkali metal group (Group 1 [Ia]) of the periodic table. Sodium is a very soft silvery-white metal. Sodium is the most common alkali metal and the …
Chemical castration | Usage, Treatment, Legality, & Facts | Britannica
Feb 24, 2026 · Chemical castration differs from surgical castration in that it is reversible and its effects typically stop when the drugs are ceased. Chemical castration is used in the treatment of certain …
Water | Definition, Chemical Formula, Structure, Molecule, & Facts ...
Feb 6, 2026 · This article describes the molecular structure of water as well as its physical and chemical properties. For other major treatments of water, see climate; environmental works; hydrosphere; ice; …
Chemistry, Classification, & Chemical Reactions - Britannica
The rates of chemical reactions—that is, the velocities at which they occur—depend upon a number of factors, including the chemical nature of the reacting species and the external conditions to which …