chemical process

chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions

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; "of the top 50 commodity chemicals, 30 are created directly by catalysis and another 6 are made from raw materials that are catalytically produced"

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; "there was a chemical reaction of the lime with the ground water"

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

gasification - the process of changing into gas; "coal gas is produced by the gasification of coal"

gassing - the process of interacting with gas

hydrogenation - a chemical process that adds hydrogen atoms to an unsaturated oil; "food producers use hydrogenation to keep fat from becoming rancid"

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; "he determined unique mechanisms for the photochemical reactions"

natural action, natural process, action, activity - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity"

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)