chemicals
chemicals — noun
- chemicalssingular
- chemicalsesplural
1. substances that are made or used when atoms or molecules join together or break
substances that are made or used when atoms or molecules join together or break apart — for example, elements such as oxygen, or compounds such as salt and water
The factory was fined for dumping harmful chemicals into the river.
collocation: harmful / toxic chemicals
Many household cleaning products contain chemicals that can irritate the skin.
collocation: contain chemicals
Scientists at the university lab are testing new chemicals to develop a safer pesticide.
Exposure to certain industrial chemicals over many years can cause serious health problems.
collocation: industrial chemicals
The water sample was sent to the lab to check for dangerous chemicals.
- harmful chemicals
- toxic chemicals
- industrial chemicals
- dangerous chemicals
- household chemicals
- agricultural chemicals
- chemical compounds
- substances
a broader term that covers solids, liquids, and gases, not only those produced by chemical processes
- compounds
a more specific term for chemicals made of two or more elements bonded together
- agents
used for chemicals that produce a specific effect, often in technical or medical contexts
Usage Note
The plural noun 'chemicals' is the most common form when referring to chemical substances in general or as a group. The singular 'a chemical' refers to one specific substance (e.g., 'Benzene is a chemical used in plastics'). Do not use 'chemicals' as slang for illegal drugs — that meaning is informal and not standard in academic or professional English.
Common Mistakes
chemicals — adjective
- chemicalspositive
- more chemicalscomparative
- most chemicalssuperlative
1. involving or produced by chemistry — describes processes, reactions, substances,
involving or produced by chemistry — describes processes, reactions, substances, or products that relate to how atoms and molecules interact with one another
A chemical reaction occurs when two or more substances combine to form something new.
collocation: chemical reaction
The factory installed a new system to treat its chemical waste before releasing it.
collocation: chemical waste
The team carried out a detailed chemical analysis of the soil samples.
collocation: chemical analysis
All workers in the plant must wear protective clothing when handling chemical products.
collocation: chemical products
The chemical composition of the mineral was first studied in the early twentieth century.
collocation: chemical composition
- chemical reaction
- chemical waste
- chemical analysis
- chemical composition
- chemical products
- chemical plant
- chemical process
- chemical formula
- chemistry-related
less common alternative, used to describe industry or study fields
- synthetic
narrower meaning — refers specifically to chemicals made artificially, not natural ones
- natural
describes substances occurring without human chemical processing, though natural substances also have a chemical makeup
Grammar Patterns
chemical + noun
Usage Note
This is a relational adjective — it links a noun to the field of chemistry or to chemical substances. It is almost always used before a noun (attributive position), as in 'chemical reaction' or 'chemical plant'. It does NOT describe a person's emotional state or personality (that would be 'chemistry' as in 'they had good chemistry').
Common Mistakes
Etymology
First known use
1739
1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1