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poison gas

(Encyclopedia)poison gas, any of various gases sometimes used in warfare or riot control because of their poisonous or corrosive nature. These gases may be roughly grouped according to the portal of entry into the ...

strontium

(Encyclopedia)strontium strŏnˈshēəm [key] [from Strontian, a Scottish town], a metallic chemical element; symbol Sr; at. no. 38; at. wt. 87.62; m.p. 769℃; b.p. 1,384℃; sp. gr. 2.6 at 20℃; valence +2. Stro...

coenzyme

(Encyclopedia)coenzyme kō-ĕnˈzīm [key], any one of a group of relatively small organic molecules required for the catalytic function of certain enzymes. A coenzyme may either be attached by covalent bonds to a ...

leaven

(Encyclopedia)leaven lĕvˈən [key], agent used to raise bread or other flour foods. Physical leavens include water vapor, which is released as steam at high temperatures (as in popovers), and air, which is incorp...

ash, in chemistry

(Encyclopedia)ash, in chemistry, solid residue of combustion. The chemical composition of an ash depends on that of the substance burned. Wood ash contains metal carbonates (e.g., potassium carbonate) and oxides fo...

marcasite

(Encyclopedia)marcasite märˈkəsīt [key] or white iron pyrites, a mineral closely resembling and having the same chemical composition (FeS2) as pyrite. It differs from pyrite in that it is paler in color, become...

Krasnodar

(Encyclopedia)Krasnodar krəsˌnədärˈ [key], city (1989 pop. 621,000), capital of Krasnodar Territory, SE European Russia, on the Kuban River. A river port and railroad junction, it has petroleum refineries and ...

Texas City

(Encyclopedia)Texas City, city (1990 pop. 40,822), Galveston co., S Tex., on Galveston Bay, opposite the city of Galveston; inc. 1911. It is a railroad terminus and an industrial city and port with huge oil refiner...

rigor mortis

(Encyclopedia)rigor mortis rĭˈgər môrˈtĭs [key], rigidity of the body that occurs after death. The onset may vary from about 10 min to several hours or more after death, depending on the condition of the body...

vermilion

(Encyclopedia)vermilion, vivid red pigment of durable quality. It is a chemical compound of mercury and sulfur and is known as red sulfide of mercury; it was formerly obtained by grinding pure cinnabar but is now c...