Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

336 results found

bead test

(Encyclopedia)bead test, test used in the identification of certain metals. Some metallic ions that cannot be identified by a flame test are identified by a bead test. The test can also be used to confirm the resul...

sodium carbonate

(Encyclopedia)sodium carbonate, chemical compound, Na2CO3, soluble in water and very slightly soluble in alcohol. Pure sodium carbonate is a white, odorless powder that absorbs moisture from the air, has an alkalin...

lignin

(Encyclopedia)lignin lĭgˈnĭn [key], a highly polymerized and complex chemical compound especially common in woody plants. The cellulose walls of the wood become impregnated with lignin, a process called lignific...

Buena Park

(Encyclopedia)Buena Park bwāˈnə [key], city (2020 pop. 84,034), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1953. Food pr...

red lead

(Encyclopedia)red lead, bright red to orange-red powder, also called minium, that is used in the manufacture of storage batteries, lead glass, and red pigments; a paint made with red lead is commonly used to protec...

chloroprene

(Encyclopedia)chloroprene klōrˈəprēnˌ [key] or 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene, colorless liquid organic compound used in the synthesis of neoprene and certain other rubbers. The structure of the chloroprene molecule i...

ferric sulfate

(Encyclopedia)ferric sulfate or iron (III) sulfate, chemical compound, Fe2(SO4)3, a yellow rhombic crystalline hygroscopic water-soluble salt that decomposes when heated to a temperature of 480℃. The enneahydrate...

cresol

(Encyclopedia)cresol krēˈsōl [key], CH3C6H4OH, any one of three aromatic alcohols present in coal tar. The three compounds are structural isomers; they may be thought of as hydroxy derivatives of toluene or as m...

law of simple multiple proportions

(Encyclopedia)law of simple multiple proportions, in chemistry, the statement that when two or more elements form more than one compound, the ratio of the weights of one element that combine with a given weight of ...

photocopying

(Encyclopedia)photocopying, process whereby written or printed matter is directly copied by photographic techniques. Generally, photocopying is practical when just a few copies of an original are needed. When many ...