/ English Dictionary |
CHEMICAL CHANGE
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
(chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved
Synonyms:
chemical action; chemical change; chemical process
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Hypernyms ("chemical change" is a kind of...):
action; activity; natural action; natural process (a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings))
Domain category:
chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chemical change"):
gasification (the process of changing into gas)
gassing (the process of interacting with gas)
hydrogenation (a chemical process that adds hydrogen atoms to an unsaturated oil)
intumescence; intumescency; swelling (the increase in volume of certain substances when they are heated (often accompanied by release of water))
inversion (a chemical process in which the direction of optical rotation of a substance is reversed from dextrorotatory to levorotary or vice versa)
iodination (the substitution or addition of iodine atoms in organic compounds)
chemical mechanism; mechanism (the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction)
nitrification (the chemical process in which a nitro group is added to an organic compound (or substituted for another group in an organic compound))
peptisation; peptization (the process of converting to a sol; bringing to a colloidal solution)
photosynthesis (synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants))
polymerisation; polymerization (a chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer or polymeric compound)
precipitation (the process of forming a chemical precipitate)
proteolysis (the hydrolysis of proteins into peptides and amino acids by cleavage of their peptide bonds)
pyrochemical process; pyrochemistry (processes for chemical reactions at high temperatures)
sequestration (the action of forming a chelate or other stable compound with an ion or atom or molecule so that it is no longer available for reactions)
synaeresis; syneresis (the separation of liquid from a gel that is caused by contraction (as in cheese making))
synthesis (the process of producing a chemical compound (usually by the union of simpler chemical compounds))
transamination (the process of transfering an amino group from one compound to another)
transamination (the process of transposing an amino group within a chemical compound)
ferment; fermentation; fermenting; zymolysis; zymosis (a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol)
acylation (the process of introducing an acyl group into a compound)
agglutinating activity; agglutination (the coalescing of small particles that are suspended in solution; these larger masses are then (usually) precipitated)
amylolysis (conversion of starch to sugar)
association ((chemistry) any process of combination (especially in solution) that depends on relatively weak chemical bonding)
blueing; bluing (a process that makes something blue (or bluish))
calcification (a process that impregnates something with calcium (or calcium salts))
catalysis; contact action (acceleration of a chemical reaction induced the presence of material that is chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction)
chelation (the process of forming a ring by forming one or more hydrogen bonds)
chemical reaction; reaction ((chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others)
chlorination (the addition or substitution of chlorine in organic compounds)
cleavage (the breaking of a chemical bond in a molecule resulting in smaller molecules)
corroding; corrosion; erosion (erosion by chemical action)
cracking (the process whereby heavy molecules of naphtha or petroleum are broken down into hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight (especially in the oil-refining process))
deamination; deaminization (removal of the amino radical from an amino acid or other amino compound)
decalcification (loss of calcium from bones or teeth)
decarboxylation (the process of removing a carboxyl group from a chemical compound (usually replacing it with hydrogen))
de-iodination (the removal of iodine atoms from organic compounds)
demineralisation; demineralization (the removal of minerals and mineral salts from a liquid (especially from water))
desalination; desalinisation; desalinization (the removal of salt (especially from sea water))
digestion (the process of decomposing organic matter (as in sewage) by bacteria or by chemical action or heat)
dissociation ((chemistry) the temporary or reversible process in which a molecule or ion is broken down into smaller molecules or ions)