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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 element | Definition, Origins, Distribution, & Facts | Britannica

    Jan 9, 2026 · A chemical element is any substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical processes. Elements are the fundamental materials of which all matter is …

  3. 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.

  4. Sodium | Facts, Uses, & Properties | Britannica

    4 days ago · sodium (Na), chemical element of the alkali metal group (Group 1 [Ia]) of the periodic table. Sodium is a very soft silvery-white metal. Sodium is the most common alkali metal and the sixth most …

  5. 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? What are some uses of lead in everyday life?

  6. 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 …

  7. 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.

  8. 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 …

  9. chemical reaction - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help

    The substances in a chemical reaction may be chemical elements, molecules, or compounds. The substances present at the start of a chemical reaction are called the reactants; the substances …

  10. 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 …