
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.
Chemistry | Definition, Topics, Types, History, & Facts | Britannica
Mar 2, 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 reaction | Definition, Equations, Examples, & Types - Britannica
Substances are either chemical elements or compounds. A chemical reaction rearranges the constituent atoms of the reactants to create different substances as products.
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 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 engineering | Processes, Principles & Applications | Britannica
Feb 20, 2026 · The fundamental principles of chemical engineering underlie the operation of processes extending well beyond the boundaries of the chemical industry, and chemical engineers are …
Chemical energy | Definition & Facts | Britannica
5 days ago · 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 …
Chemical Products Portal | Britannica
Chemical Products Although nature provides us with a staggering amount of natural resources, humankind has also made use of a great variety of man-made compounds and substances.
Weathering | Physical, Chemical & Biological Effects | Britannica
Jan 22, 2026 · Rock alteration usually involves chemical weathering in which the mineral composition of the rock is changed, reorganized, or redistributed. The rock minerals are exposed to solution, …
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 …