chemical
/ˈkem.ɪ.kəl/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Made of or used in chemistry. It describes substances, processes, or changes involving chemicals.
- The factory stores chemical waste safely.
- Chemical reactions can happen very quickly.
noun
A chemical is a substance used in or produced by chemistry. It can be natural or man-made.
- This cleaner contains strong chemicals.
- Farmers use chemicals to protect crops.
Adinary Nuance
Chemical is broader than a lot of learners expect. As an adjective, it often means “related to chemistry,” not always “dangerous” or “artificial.” As a noun, it usually means a substance, while “drug” or “medicine” is more specific. Writers choose chemical when they want a science or industrial meaning.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hóa chất
- Spanish
- químico
- Chinese
- 化学的
- Japanese
- 化学の
- Korean
- 화학의
Etymology
Chemical came into English in the 1600s from chemistry and French chimique. Both words go back to Arabic and Greek roots connected with alchemy.
Common phrases
chemical reactionchemical formulachemical wastechemical industry
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is chemical always something harmful?
- No. Chemical can mean anything related to chemistry, including useful or harmless substances.
- What is the difference between chemical and chemist?
- Chemical is a substance or adjective. A chemist is a person who studies or works with chemistry.
- Can I use chemical in academic writing?
- Yes. It is very common in science, education, and business writing.
- Is chemical a countable noun?
- Yes, usually. You can say “a chemical” or “chemicals” for more than one.