chemical process
Substances changing together
A chemical process is a method or series of operations that transforms substances through chemical reactions, changing their molecular structure.
Industrial chemical processes convert raw materials into useful products: refining petroleum, manufacturing plastics, producing pharmaceuticals.
The term distinguishes transformations involving chemical change from purely physical processes like filtering or crushing.
Act of changing states
- distillationPurification via vaporization
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- hydrolysisWater-induced bond cleavage
- isomerizationMolecular rearrangement keeping same atoms
crystallization · saponification · esterification · cracking · reforming · hydrogenation · dehydration · calcination
Monomers bonding into chains
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
- photosynthesisLight-to-sugar conversion in plants
- chemosynthesisEnergy from chemical reactions
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
anabolism · convergent · linear · asymmetric · coupling reaction · condensation · precursor · intermediate
Substances entering a reaction
- productsItems made for sale
- stoichiometryQuantitative chemical reaction analysis
- equilibriumState of balance
- kineticsScience of motion forces
enthalpy · exothermic · endothermic · thermodynamics · concentration · combustion · redox · oxidation
Introduction of impurities
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- hazardous wasteDangerous discards threatening health
- toxinsHarmful biological substances
heavy metals · carcinogens · bioaccumulation · acid rain · smog · greenhouse gases · runoff · leachate
Agent enabling change
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
- activation energyMinimum energy for transformation
reaction rate · turnover number · selectivity · inhibitor · accelerator · kinetics · adsorption · surface area
Atomic-scale manipulation science
- biotechnologyEngineering using living systems
- sustainableAble to endure long-term
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
- bioengineeringEngineering applied to biology
bioreactors · carbon capture · microreactors · catalytic converters
Proportional increase in magnitude
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
- batchQuantity produced together
- continuousWithout pause or gap
- automationSelf-operating system design
yield · throughput · feedstock · downstream · upstream · pharmaceutical · refinery · plant
conversion
Act of changing states
- distillationPurification via vaporization
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- hydrolysisWater-induced bond cleavage
isomerization · crystallization · saponification · esterification · cracking · reforming · hydrogenation · dehydration · calcination · pyrolysis
polymerization
Monomers bonding into chains
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
- photosynthesisLight-to-sugar conversion in plants
- chemosynthesisEnergy from chemical reactions
fabrication · anabolism · convergent · linear · asymmetric · coupling reaction · condensation · precursor · intermediate · pathway
reactants
Substances entering a reaction
- productsItems made for sale
- stoichiometryQuantitative chemical reaction analysis
- equilibriumState of balance
kinetics · enthalpy · exothermic · endothermic · thermodynamics · concentration · combustion · redox · oxidation · reduction
contamination
Introduction of impurities
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- hazardous wasteDangerous discards threatening health
toxins · heavy metals · carcinogens · bioaccumulation · acid rain · smog · greenhouse gases · runoff · leachate · particulates
catalyst
Agent enabling change
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
activation energy · reaction rate · turnover number · selectivity · inhibitor · accelerator · kinetics · adsorption · surface area · homogeneous
nanotechnology
Atomic-scale manipulation science
- biotechnologyEngineering using living systems
- sustainableAble to endure long-term
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
bioengineering · bioreactors · carbon capture · microreactors · catalytic converters
scale-up
Proportional increase in magnitude
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
- batchQuantity produced together
- continuousWithout pause or gap
automation · yield · throughput · feedstock · downstream · upstream · pharmaceutical · refinery · plant · quality control
- processesmanufacturing, dissolving, fermentation, subprocess, dilution
- proceduresprocedure, surgery, procedures, autopsy, policies
chemical processphysical process
Change in matter or energy
physical change · phase change · state change · mechanical action · phase transition
chemical processnuclear reaction
Atoms changing their cores
natural process · biological process · spontaneous reaction · industrial process
process, chemistry, chemical, chemist, processed, processing, unprocessed, processes, chemicals