unreactive

IPA/ˌʌnriˈæktɪv/
IPA/ˌʌnriˈæktɪv/

unreactive — adjective

  • unreactivepositive
  • more unreactivecomparative
  • most unreactivesuperlative

1. describes a substance that stays chemically unchanged when it comes into contact

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a substance that stays chemically unchanged when it comes into contact with another substance — it does not take part in a chemical reaction or alter its molecular structure

例句

Rafael learned in class that gold is an unreactive metal and does not tarnish.

be + unreactive metal: gold as a chemically stable metal

The laboratory stored the acid in an unreactive glass container to avoid dangerous reactions.

同義詞
  • inert

    more emphatic — implies a complete inability to react (e.g. noble gases); 'unreactive' is a softer, relative term

  • stable

    broader in meaning — can refer to structural or physical stability, not just chemical reactivity

  • nonreactive

    direct synonym; 'nonreactive' is more common in medical/lab equipment contexts, 'unreactive' in general chemistry

反義詞
  • reactive

    general opposite — describes substances that readily undergo chemical change

  • volatile

    stronger opposite — implies both reactivity and instability (e.g. volatile organic compounds)

文法句型

unreactive + noun

be + unreactive

用法筆記

Used almost exclusively in chemistry and materials science contexts. Do not use 'unreactive' to describe a person's behaviour or emotional state — the adjective 'unresponsive' or 'passive' is correct in those situations.

常見錯誤

❌The patient remained unreactive to the treatment.
✅The patient remained unresponsive to the treatment.
💡'unreactive' describes chemical substances, not living beings or medical responses.
❌Gold is an unreactive metal that does not react with anything.
✅Gold is an unreactive metal that does not tarnish in air.
💡Avoid extreme absolutes; 'unreactive' means low tendency, not complete impossibility.