Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

472 results found

formic acid

(Encyclopedia)formic acid or methanoic acid mĕthˌənōˈĭk [key], HCO2H, a colorless, corrosive liquid with a sharp odor; it boils at 100.7℃ and solidifies at 8.4℃. It has the lowest molecular weight and is ...

ammonium nitrate

(Encyclopedia)ammonium nitrate, chemical compound, NH4NO3, that exists as colorless, rhombohedral crystals at room temperature but changes to monoclinic crystals when heated above 32℃. It is extremely soluble in ...

isopropanol

(Encyclopedia)isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol, or 2-propanol īˌsəprōˈpənōl, īˌsəprōˈpĭl [key], (CH3)2CHOH, a colorless liquid that is miscible with water. It melts at −89℃ and boils at 82.3℃. It ...

Ekurhuleni

(Encyclopedia)Ekurhuleni, metropolitan municipality, Gauteng prov., NE South Africa. Ekurhuleni largely encompasses the East Rand region of Gauteng. Germiston is the ...

deodorizer

(Encyclopedia)deodorizer or deodorant, substance used to absorb or eliminate offensive odors. Disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, and chlorine compounds eliminate odors caused by microorganisms. Adso...

chloroform

(Encyclopedia)chloroform trīˌklôrōmĕthˈān [key], CHCl3, volatile, colorless, nonflammable liquid that has a sweetish taste and a somewhat pungent odor; it boils at 61.7℃. It dissolves freely in ethanol and...

Coanda effect

(Encyclopedia)Coanda effect or wall-attachment effect, the tendency of a moving fluid, either liquid or gas, to attach itself to a surface and flow along it. As a fluid moves across a surface a certain amount of fr...

pickle

(Encyclopedia)pickle, general term for fruits or vegetables preserved in vinegar or brine, usually with spices or sugar or both. Vegetables commonly pickled include the beet, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, olive, ...

Nuuk

(Encyclopedia)Nuuk gôtˈhôp [key], town (1996 pop. 12,882), Nuuk dist., W Greenland, on the Godthåbfjord. The largest town and capital of Greenland, it is the seat of the national council and of the supreme cour...

paraldehyde

(Encyclopedia)paraldehyde pârălˈdəhīdˌ [key], nervous system depressant similar to alcohol in its effects and used as a sedative. A colorless flammable liquid with a disagreeable odor, paraldehyde produces sl...

Browse by Subject