Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

336 results found

compound

(Encyclopedia)compound, in chemistry, a substance composed of atoms of two or more elements in chemical combination, occurring in a fixed, definite proportion and arranged in a fixed, definite structure. A compound...

aliphatic compound

(Encyclopedia)aliphatic compound ălˌəfătˈĭk [key], any of a large class of organic compounds whose carbon atoms are joined together in straight or branched open chains rather than in rings. The hydrocarbons o...

cyclic compound

(Encyclopedia)cyclic compound, any one of a class of compounds whose molecules contain a number of atoms bonded together to form a closed chain or ring. If all of the atoms that form the ring are carbon, the compou...

chain compound

(Encyclopedia)chain compound: see aliphatic compound. ...

aromatic compound

(Encyclopedia)aromatic compound, any of a large class of compounds that includes benzene and compounds that resemble benzene in certain of their chemical properties. Originally applied to a small class of pleasant-...

ring compound

(Encyclopedia)ring compound: see aromatic compound. ...

CS, chemical compound

(Encyclopedia)CS, chemical compound (orthochlorobenzalmalonitrile) used in riot control and, by the military, as a harassing agent. The compound is dispersed as an aerosol or as a finely divided powder. Exposure to...

Browse by Subject