# chemical

Pronunciation: US say "KEM-i-kuhl" /ˈkɛm.ɪ.kəl/; UK

## Adjective

1. Relating to chemistry, or to the properties and reactions of substances.
   - Simple: Having to do with chemistry, or with the way substances change and react.
   - _She published several papers on chemical bonding._
   - _The factory follows strict rules for handling chemical waste._
4. Relating to materials or processes not normally present in nature or in a given product.
   - Simple: Describing materials or steps not normally found in nature or in a product.
   - _Customers wanted snacks free of chemical preservatives._
   - _The treatment relies on a chemical process rather than a natural one._

## Noun

2. Any specific element, compound, or alloy regarded as a distinct substance.
   - Simple: Any one kind of substance, such as an element, a compound, or a mix of metals.
   - _The lab stores each chemical in a clearly labeled container._
   - _Several chemicals reacted violently the moment they were combined._
3. A man-made substance, thought of as opposed to anything natural, especially one added to food, water, or the body. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A man-made substance viewed as unnatural, especially one added to food, water, or the body.
   - _Critics worry about the chemicals sprayed on crops._
   - _My grandmother refused to put a single chemical on her vegetable garden, relying on compost and picking off pests by hand._
5. A drug that produces addiction. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A drug that someone can become addicted to.
   - _In recovery meetings, members talk openly about the chemical that took over their lives._
   - _He just swapped one chemical for another, quitting pills only to start drinking heavily._

## Adjective

6. Relating to alchemy, the early art of transmuting substances. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Having to do with alchemy, the old search to turn metals into gold.

## Origin

Formed from New Latin "chēmicus" ("chemical") combined with the suffix "-al" ("related to").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/chemical (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).