Properties and Chemicals Glossary
- See Articles - List of Tags, List of Categories, List of Articles, List of Glossaries, Nomenclature and Symbol
A
- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
- Acetic Acid - A clear, colorless organic liquid with a distinctive pungent, sour odor that is characteristic of vinegar. It is a simple carboxylic acid, meaning it contains a carboxyl functional group. At its pure, concentrated form (around 99.5%), it's referred to as glacial acetic acid, which can solidify into ice-like crystals at temperatures below 16.6°C (61.9°F).
B
- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
- Benzene - A colorless, highly flammable liquid with a sweet, aromatic odor and the chemical formula \(C_6 \; H_6\). It is the simplest aromatic hydrocarbon and is characterized by a unique cyclic structure. Unlike typical hydrocarbons with distinct single and double bonds, benzene features six carbon atoms arranged in a planar hexagonal ring. Each carbon atom is bonded to one hydrogen atom, and importantly, the remaining valence electrons from the carbon atoms are delocalized, forming a continuous cloud of pi-electrons above and below the ring.
- Butane - An alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula \(C_4H_{10}\). It exists as two structural isomers: n-butane, which has a straight chain of four carbon atoms, and isobutane, which has a branched structure. Both isomers are highly flammable, colorless gases that are easily liquefied under pressure and readily vaporize at room temperature.
C
- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
- Carbon - A chemical element, denoted by the symbol C, that forms the backbone of all known life on Earth. It's a nonmetal and belongs to Group 14 of the periodic table. What makes carbon so unique is its ability to form a vast array of stable bonds with other carbon atoms and with many other elements, including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. This exceptional bonding versatility allows carbon to create incredibly diverse and complex structures, ranging from the simple methane molecule to the intricate macromolecules that make up living organisms, such as DNA and proteins.
- Carbon Dioxide - A colorless, odorless gas that plays a critical role in Earth's atmosphere and various natural and industrial processes. It consists of one carbon atom covalently bonded to two oxygen atoms, forming a linear molecule. Naturally present in the atmosphere at low concentrations (about 0.04%), \(CO_2\) is essential for life as it is used by plants during photosynthesis to produce oxygen and glucose, sustaining ecosystems.
- Cetane - Cetane, chemically known as n-hexadecane, is a colorless, straight-chain hydrocarbon with the chemical formula \(C_{16}H_{34}\). Its primary significance lies in its role as the benchmark for measuring the ignition quality of diesel fuel.
D
E
- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
- Ethane - The second simplest alkane hydrocarbon, composed of two carbon atoms connected by a single bond, with each carbon atom also bonded to three hydrogen atoms, resulting in the chemical formula \(C_2H_6\). Like methane and butane, it is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas at standard temperature and pressure.
F
G
H
- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
- Hexane - An organic compound and a straight-chain alkane with the molecular formula \(C_6 H_{14}\). It is a colorless, highly flammable liquid with a faint, gasoline-like odor, especially when pure. Hexane is primarily obtained from the refining of crude oil and is a significant component of gasoline. It is widely used as a non-polar solvent in various industrial and laboratory applications due to its relatively low cost, high volatility (meaning it evaporates quickly), and ability to dissolve a wide range of organic compounds.
- n-Hexadecane - See Centane
- Hydrogen - The simplest and most abundant chemical element in the universe, consisting of a single proton and a single electron in its most common form (protium). It's a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, and despite its abundance in the cosmos (making up about 75% of all normal matter), it's relatively scarce in its elemental gaseous form on Earth.
- Hydrogen Sulfide - A colorless, highly toxic, corrosive, and flammable gas infamous for its distinctive rotten-egg odor at low concentrations. Often referred to as sewer gas, swamp gas, or stink damp, it is slightly denser than air and can accumulate in low-lying and enclosed spaces, posing a significant hazard in poorly ventilated areas like sewers, manholes, and underground vaults.
I
J
K
L
- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
- Limestone - A sedimentary rock primarily composed of calcium carbonate \(CaCO_3\), typically in the form of the mineral calcite or, less commonly, aragonite. It forms mainly in marine environments through the accumulation and compaction of skeletal fragments from marine organisms like corals, mollusks, and foraminifera, as well as through chemical precipitation of calcium carbonate from water. Limestone varies in color, usually appearing white, gray, or beige, and often contains visible fossils or shell fragments, giving it a textured appearance.
M
- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
- Methane - The simplest alkane hydrocarbon, consisting of a single carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms, giving it the chemical formula \(CH_4\). It is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas that is the main component of natural gas, making it a crucial fossil fuel for electricity generation, heating, and industrial processes.
N
- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
- Nickel - A silvery-white, lustrous transition metal with a slight golden tinge, known for its hardness, ductility, and malleability. It is the 28th element on the periodic table and is highly valued for its exceptional resistance to corrosion and oxidation, even at high temperatures. Nickel is also a good conductor of heat and electricity and is one of only four elements (along with iron, cobalt, and gadolinium) that are ferromagnetic at room temperature, meaning they can be easily magnetized.
- Nitrogen - A chemical element with the symbol \(N\) and atomic number 7, making it a nonmetal and the lightest member of Group 15 of the periodic table, often referred to as the pnictogens. At standard temperature and pressure, it exists as a colorless, odorless, and tasteless diatomic gas, \(N_2\), which remarkably constitutes about 78% of Earth's atmosphere, making it the most abundant gas in the air we breathe. Despite its abundance in the atmosphere, the strong triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms in \(N_2\) makes it very unreactive, meaning it's difficult for most organisms and industrial processes to directly utilize atmospheric nitrogen.
O
P
- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
- Pentane - An organic compound that belongs to the alkane family, meaning it is a saturated hydrocarbon consisting only of single bonds between carbon atoms. It is a colorless, volatile, and highly flammable liquid with a characteristic gasoline-like odor. Pentane is naturally found in crude oil and as a byproduct of natural gas production.
- Propane - An alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula \(C_3H_8\), consisting of three carbon atoms bonded in a straight chain, with the remaining valencies satisfied by eight hydrogen atoms. It is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas that is most commonly known as a primary component of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), alongside butane.
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z