
Chemical element | Definition, Origins, Distribution, & Facts | Britannica
Nov 29, 2025 · 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
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.
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
Nov 30, 2025 · Substances are either chemical elements or compounds. A chemical reaction rearranges the constituent atoms of the reactants to create different substances as products.
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 energy | Definition & Facts | Britannica
Chemical reactions differ from physical changes, which include changes of state, such as ice melting to water and water evaporating to vapor. If a physical change occurs, the physical properties of a …
chemical reaction - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help
The substances in a chemical reaction may be chemical elements, molecules, or compounds. The substances present at the start of a chemical reaction are called the reactants; the substances …
Chemical change | Britannica
Nov 19, 2025 · A chemical change (that is, a chemical reaction) is one in which the organization of the atoms is altered. An example of a chemical reaction is the burning of methane in the presence of …
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 …
Chemical weapon - WMD, Toxins, Agents | Britannica
Chemical weapon - WMD, Toxins, Agents: Chemical weapons did not become true weapons of mass destruction (WMD) until they were introduced in their modern form in World War I (1914–18).