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  1. Chemistry | Definition, Topics, Types, History, & Facts | Britannica

    Dec 26, 2025 · Cooking, fermentation, glass making, and metallurgy are all chemical processes that date from the beginnings of civilization. Today, vinyl, Teflon, liquid crystals, semiconductors, and …

  2. 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.

  3. Caffeine | Stimulant, Health Benefits, Addiction | Britannica

    Jan 8, 2026 · Caffeine, nitrogenous organic compound of the alkaloid group, substances that have marked physiological effects. Caffeine occurs in tea, coffee, guarana, maté, kola nuts, and cacao. …

  4. Periodic table | Definition, Elements, Names, Symbols, Groups, Charges ...

    Dec 22, 2025 · Periodic table, in chemistry, is an organized array of all the chemical elements in order of increasing atomic number. When the elements are thus arranged, there is a recurring pattern in …

  5. Nitric oxide | Uses, Facts, & Definition | Britannica

    Dec 27, 2025 · Nitric oxide, colourless toxic gas that has important chemical signaling functions in animals and is a serious air pollutant.

  6. Lead | Definition, Uses, Properties, & Facts | Britannica

    Jan 22, 2026 · What is lead as a chemical element? What does lead look like and what is its symbol on the periodic table? Where is lead found in nature?

  7. Cellular respiration | Definition, Equation, Cycle, Process, Reactants ...

    Jan 9, 2026 · Cellular respiration, the process by which organisms combine oxygen with foodstuff molecules, diverting the chemical energy in these substances into life-sustaining activities and …

  8. Lipid | Definition, Structure, Examples, Functions, Types, & Facts ...

    Jan 13, 2026 · This section describes the structure and physical and chemical properties of fatty acids. It also explains how living organisms obtain fatty acids, both from their diets and through metabolic …

  9. Air | Composition, Oxygen, Nitrogen | Britannica

    Jan 15, 2026 · Key People: Carl von Linde Henry Cavendish Robert Boyle Anaximenes Of Miletus Ctesibius Of Alexandria (Show more) Related Topics: chemical element atmosphere air-cushion …

  10. Hydrogen | Properties, Uses, & Facts | Britannica

    Jan 16, 2026 · The earliest known important chemical property of hydrogen is that it burns with oxygen to form water, H 2 O; indeed, the name hydrogen is derived from Greek words meaning “maker of …