
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
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 Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
CHEMICAL meaning: 1 : of or relating to chemistry; 2 : working by means of chemicals
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.
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 bonding | Definition, Types, & Examples | Britannica
Jan 29, 2026 · This article begins by describing the historical evolution of the current understanding of chemical bonding and then discusses how modern theories of the formation of chemical bonds have …
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 …
Periodic table | Definition, Elements, Names, Symbols, Groups, Charges ...
4 days ago · Periodic table, in chemistry, is an organized array of all the chemical elements in order of increasing atomic number. When the elements are thus arranged, there is a recurring pattern in …
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; …
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.