volatiles
Substances that vaporize
Volatiles are substances that evaporate readily at normal temperatures.
In chemistry and industry, the term covers liquids and gases that vaporize easily—solvents, fuels, organic compounds: The lab tested for volatiles in the air samples.
In planetary science, volatiles are elements and compounds with low boiling points, like water, carbon dioxide, and methane, that shape atmospheres and cometary tails.
In computing, volatile memory loses its contents when power is cut.
Drinkable volatile spirit
- benzeneAromatic hydrocarbon solvent
- acetoneVolatile organic solvent
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- propaneFlammable hydrocarbon fuel
butane · hexane · chloroform · toluene · xylene · formaldehyde · ammonia · solvent
Fragrant liquid for wearing
- scentAirborne odor detected
- fragrancePleasing olfactory quality
- essenceFundamental nature of something
- bouquetArranged cluster of blooms
essential oils · top notes · evaporative · diffusive · terpenes · limonene · menthol · camphor
Explosive compound, cardiac drug
- TNTPowerful blasting compound
- dynamitePowerful blasting compound
- C4Moldable military explosive
- detonationExplosive ignition event
blast · combustible · ignition · fulminate · azide · peroxide · propellant
Prone to sudden change
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- quick-temperedProne to sudden anger
fiery · passionate · impulsive · moody · capricious · hot-headed · short fuse · reactive
Lasting very briefly
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- short-livedLasting only briefly
dissipating · vanishing · impermanent · fugacious · momentary · passing · fading
Shifting irregularly over time
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- swingingMoving in arcs
- price spikesSharp sudden cost increases
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
market swings · risk · boom-bust · whipsaw · corrections · bearish · bullish · hedge
ethanol
Drinkable volatile spirit
propane · butane · hexane · chloroform · toluene · xylene · formaldehyde · ammonia · solvent · evaporation
perfume
Fragrant liquid for wearing
- scentAirborne odor detected
- fragrancePleasing olfactory quality
- essenceFundamental nature of something
bouquet · essential oils · top notes · evaporative · diffusive · terpenes · limonene · menthol · camphor · headspace
nitroglycerin
Explosive compound, cardiac drug
detonation · blast · combustible · ignition · fulminate · azide · peroxide · propellant
mercurial
Prone to sudden change
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
quick-tempered · fiery · passionate · impulsive · moody · capricious · hot-headed · short fuse · reactive · excitable
ephemeral
Lasting very briefly
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
short-lived · dissipating · vanishing · impermanent · fugacious · momentary · passing · fading
fluctuating
Shifting irregularly over time
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- swingingMoving in arcs
- price spikesSharp sudden cost increases
market swings · speculation · risk · boom-bust · whipsaw · corrections · bearish · bullish · hedge
- moonfull moon, lunar, crescent moon, new moon, half moon
- Volcanismmagma, eruption, lava flow, volcanic eruption, magma chamber
- space resourceswater ice, helium-3, oxygen, hydrogen, titanium
- geochemistryisotope geochemistry, biogeochemistry, trace element, trace elements, isotopes
- coal componentscarbon, ash, moisture, sulfur, coke
- pyrolysis productscharcoal, char, wood tar, pine tar, tar
volatilessolids
Matter with fixed shape
residues · precipitates · refractories · permanents · condensates
- market volatilityRapid price fluctuation severity
- volatile substancesEasily evaporating chemical materials
- emotional volatilityRapid, unpredictable feeling changes
- volatile fatty acidsShort-chain carboxylic metabolites
- volatile memoryStorage requiring constant power
- volatile chemicalCompound that readily vaporizes
volatile, volatility, volatilize, volatilization, nonvolatile, volatilized, volatilities, volatilizes