impurities
Unwanted stuff inside
Impurities are unwanted substances mixed into something that should be pure.
In chemistry and manufacturing, impurities are contaminants that compromise quality: The water contained trace impurities.
In moral or religious contexts, impurities are corruptions of purity or chastity.
The singular impurity works both as a count noun (an impurity) and as an abstract quality (moral impurity).
Harmful environmental substances
- adulterantsSubstances that debase purity
- particulatesMinute airborne solids or droplets
- sedimentsParticles that settle below
- residuesWhat's left after processing
foreign matter · additives · debris · dross · slag · sludge · soot · ash
Metal-bearing rock
- slagIndustrial metalworking byproduct
- drossMetalwork's floating refuse
- gangueCommercially worthless ore rock
- inclusionsThings placed within
oxides · sulfides · silicates · carbon · phosphorus · sulfur · silicon · manganese
Violation of divine law
- viceBad habit or deputy
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- defilementAct of corrupting purity
- wickednessMoral corruption or evil
depravity · iniquity · transgression · immorality · uncleanness · taint · stain · blemish
Cloudiness from suspended particles
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- chlorineHalogen disinfectant element
- fluorideNegatively charged halogen ion
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
arsenic · nitrates · bacteria · algae · microorganisms · rust · scale · biofilm
Secondary results of production
- isomersSame formula, different structure
- solventsLiquids that dissolve substances
- catalystsReaction accelerators
- intermediatesThings between endpoints
enantiomers · polymorphs · hydrates · oxides · sulfides · chlorides · nitrates · phosphates
pollutants
Harmful environmental substances
- adulterantsSubstances that debase purity
- particulatesMinute airborne solids or droplets
- sedimentsParticles that settle below
residues · foreign matter · additives · debris · dross · slag · sludge · soot · ash · dust
ore
Metal-bearing rock
- slagIndustrial metalworking byproduct
- drossMetalwork's floating refuse
- gangueCommercially worthless ore rock
inclusions · oxides · sulfides · silicates · carbon · phosphorus · sulfur · silicon · manganese · chromium
sin
Violation of divine law
- viceBad habit or deputy
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- defilementAct of corrupting purity
wickedness · depravity · iniquity · transgression · immorality · uncleanness · taint · stain · blemish · unworthiness
turbidity
Cloudiness from suspended particles
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- chlorineHalogen disinfectant element
- fluorideNegatively charged halogen ion
lead · arsenic · nitrates · bacteria · algae · microorganisms · rust · scale · biofilm · coliform
byproducts
Secondary results of production
- isomersSame formula, different structure
- solventsLiquids that dissolve substances
- catalystsReaction accelerators
intermediates · enantiomers · polymorphs · hydrates · oxides · sulfides · chlorides · nitrates · phosphates · carbonates
- semiconductorssilicon, semiconductor, semiconductors, silicon wafers, transistor
- Things You Filterwater, coffee, air, oil, light
- pollutantspollutants, pollutant, contaminant, contaminants, toxin
- crystallizationcrystal growth, nucleation, crystal structure, seed crystal, seed crystals
- trace analysisppb, ppm, ppt, analyte, quantification
- food adulterationdilution, watering down, cutting, tampering, doctoring
impuritiespurities
States of being uncontaminated
purity · cleanliness · immaculateness · spotlessness · sterility
pure, purity, purify, purely, impure, impurity, Puritanism, purifying, purified