Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
chemical
This term often carries a dual personality depending on the setting. In a scientific or industrial context, it is a neutral descriptor for any substance with a defined composition. However, in common parlance, it frequently takes on a negative or suspicious connotation, implying something synthetic, artificial, or toxic, as seen in the phrase "chemical-free" food. When used as an adjective, it describes the invisible, molecular-level machinery of the world. It evokes the image of bonds breaking and forming, whether in a test tube or within the brain to regulate mood, contrasting with biological or mechanical processes.
Countable when referring to a specific type of substance, such as a chemical used in a pesticide. Uncountable when referring to the general presence of synthetic substances in a product.
Meanings
A substance produced by or used in a chemical process.
"The lab technician mixed a hazardous chemical with water."
Relating to chemistry or the interaction of chemical substances.
"The patient experienced a chemical reaction to the medication."