Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

iodoform

(Encyclopedia)iodoform īōˈdəfôrmˌ [key], CHI3, yellow crystalline solid that has a penetrating odor. It melts at 119℃ and is insoluble in water but soluble in ether or ethanol. Iodoform was formerly used as...

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...

Qinhuangdao

(Encyclopedia)Qinhuangdao or Chinwangtao both: chĭnˈhwängˈdouˈ [key], city (1994 est. pop. 412,500), NE Hebei prov., China, on the Bohai, an arm of the Yellow Sea. It is an ice-free port that exports large qua...

Yinchuan

(Encyclopedia)Yinchuan or Yinchwan both: yĭnˈchwänˈ [key], city (1994 est. pop. 412,900), capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, on the Huang He (Yellow River). It is a shipping point for the products...

rocket, in botany

(Encyclopedia)rocket, in botany, popular name for several plants of the family Cruciferae (or Brassicaceae; mustard family). The dame's, or damask, violet, damewort, or sweet rocket is Hesperis matronalis, a hardy,...

picric acid

(Encyclopedia)picric acid trīˌnīˌtrōfēˈnōl [key], C6H2(NO2)3OH, a toxic yellow crystalline solid that melts at 122℃ and is soluble in most organic solvents. Picric acid is a derivative of phenol. It react...

blackbird

(Encyclopedia)blackbird, common name in North America of a perching bird allied to the bobolink, the meadow lark, the oriole, and the grackle and belonging to the family Icteridae. The European blackbird, Turdus me...

infectious canine hepatitis

(Encyclopedia)infectious canine hepatitis, acute viral disease of canines, especially dogs and foxes. The causative agent, an adenovirus, is not infectious to humans. In foxes the disease is manifested primarily as...

eczema

(Encyclopedia)eczema ĕkˈsəmə [key], acute or chronic skin disease characterized by redness, itching, serum-filled blisters, crusting, and scaling. Predisposing factors are familial history of allergic disorders...

dermatitis

(Encyclopedia)dermatitis dûrˌmətīˈtĭs [key], nonspecific irritation of the skin. The causative agent may be a bacterium, fungus, or parasite; it can also be a foreign substance, known as an allergen. Contact ...