
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 …
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.
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. …
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 …
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.
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?
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …