Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Cronstedt, Axel Fredrik, Baron

(Encyclopedia)Cronstedt, Axel Fredrik, Baron äkˈsəl frāˈdrĭk, kro͞onˈstĕt [key], 1722–65, Swedish mineralogist and chemist. In 1751 he discovered in niccolite an impure form of nickel, reported it as a n...

Dacron

(Encyclopedia)Dacron dāˈkrŏn, dăkˈrŏn [key], trademark for a polyester fiber. Dacron is a condensation polymer obtained from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. Its properties include high tensile strength...

potassium carbonate

(Encyclopedia)potassium carbonate, chemical compound, K2CO3, white, crystalline, deliquescent substance that forms a strongly alkaline water solution. It is available commercially as a white, granular powder common...

Baeyer, Adolf von

(Encyclopedia)Baeyer, Adolf von (Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Adolf von Baeyer) äˈdôlf fən bāˈyər; yōhänˈ frēˈdrĭkh vĭlˈhĕlm [key], 1835–1917, German chemist. He taught at Berlin and Strasbourg and in...

travertine

(Encyclopedia)travertine trăvˈərtĭn, –tēn [key], form of massive calcium carbonate, CaCO3, resulting from deposition by springs or rivers. It is often beautifully colored and banded as a result of the presen...

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...

Synge, Richard Laurence Millington

(Encyclopedia)Synge, Richard Laurence Millington, 1914–94, British biochemist, Ph.D. Cambridge, 1941. Synge was a researcher at the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine, London, from 1943 to 1948 and at the Ro...

tabun

(Encyclopedia)tabun täˈbən [key], liquid chemical compound used as a nerve gas. It boils at 240℃ with some decomposition. The liquid is colorless to brownish; its vapors have a fruity odor similar to that of b...

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...

Bielsko-Biała

(Encyclopedia)Bielsko-Biała byĕlˈskô byäˈlä [key], Ger. Bielitz, city, Śląskie prov., S Poland, on...

Browse by Subject