Wiktionary

chemical

English

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Etymology

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From chemic (“alchemy”) +‎ -al (“related to”).

Pronunciation

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  • enPR: kĕm'ĭk-əl, IPA(key): /ˈkɛmɪkəl/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (UK):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛmɪkəl

Adjective

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chemical (not comparable)

  1. Of or relating to chemistry.
    chemical experiments
    the chemical properties of iron
    Pentalene has chemical formula C8H6
    • 1883, Science, volumes 1-2, page 279:
      The physiology of matter in the abstract is dynamical, that of mineral species is both dynamical and chemical, while that of organized forms is at once dynamical, chemical, and biotical.
    • 2006, Andrew Adamatzky, “Reaction-Diffusion Reactive Wetware”, in Tamio Arai, editor, Intelligent Autonomous Systems 9, IOS Press, page 3:
      We pinpoint all essential ingredients of intelligence found in spatio-temporal dynamics of nonlinear chemical systems, and show outlines of future designs and protypes of chemical intelligent "gooware".
  2. Of or relating to a material or processes not commonly found in nature or in a particular product.
  3. (obsolete) Of or relating to alchemy.

Translations

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Further reading

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Noun

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chemical (plural chemicals)

  1. (chemistry, sciences) Any specific chemical element or chemical compound or alloy.
    Hydrogen and sulphur are both chemicals.
  2. (colloquial) An artificial chemical compound.
    I color my hair with henna, not chemicals.
    • 2025 January 15, “FDA moves to eliminate carcinogenic Red 3 from foods”, in Center for Science in the Public Interest‎[1]:
      CSPI says the Trump Administration could take steps to protect consumers from each of these chemicals and support FDA’s broader post-market assessment efforts. It could ensure that FDA sets health-protective limits on heavy metals, like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, in foods consumed by children.
  3. (slang) An addictive drug.

Usage notes

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  • The noun is frequently used in a slang and more specific non-technical way (2nd and 3rd definition) by the general public. Chemists and those who understand chemistry may gravitate toward the first, but the term "substance" is preferred usage.

Translations

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Translations to be checked

Derived terms

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terms derived from chemical (adjective and noun)
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See also

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Anagrams

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