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

addition reaction - a chemical reaction in which one molecule is added to another

aldol reaction - a reaction of aldehydes resulting in an aldol

chain reaction - a series of chemical reactions in which the product of one is a reactant in the next

chemical equilibrium, equilibrium - a chemical reaction and its reverse proceed at equal rates

chemical action, chemical change, chemical process - (chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved

decomposition reaction, decomposition - (chemistry) separation of a substance into two or more substances that may differ from each other and from the original substance

displacement reaction, displacement - (chemistry) a reaction in which an elementary substance displaces and sets free a constituent element from a compound

double decomposition, double decomposition reaction, metathesis - a chemical reaction between two compounds in which parts of each are interchanged to form two new compounds (AB+CD=AD+CB)

elimination reaction - a chemical reaction in which a molecule decomposes to two different molecules

endothermic reaction - a chemical reaction accompanied by the absorption of heat

exothermic reaction - a chemical reaction accompanied by the evolution of heat

hydrolysis - a chemical reaction in which water reacts with a compound to produce other compounds; involves the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion from the water

neutralisation, neutralisation reaction, neutralization, neutralization reaction - a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base interact with the formation of a salt; with strong acids and bases the essential reaction is the combination of hydrogen ions with hydroxyl ions to form water

oxidation, oxidisation, oxidization - the process of oxidizing; the addition of oxygen to a compound with a loss of electrons; always occurs accompanied by reduction

oxidation-reduction, oxidoreduction, redox - a reversible chemical reaction in which one reaction is an oxidation and the reverse is a reduction

photochemical reaction - a chemical reaction produced by the action of light

reducing, reduction - any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agent

saponification - a chemical reaction in which an ester is heated with an alkali (especially the alkaline hydrolysis of a fat or oil to make soap)