Glossary of Chemical Terms

The biologically active component of a drug product that produces the intended effects.

A chemical substance or microorganism intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, or exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism.

A unique numerical identifier assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service to every chemical substance described in the open scientific literature.

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.

A surface-active agent that promotes the formation of an emulsion.

An inactive substance that serves as the vehicle or medium for a drug or other active substance.

A substance that promotes the clumping of particles, especially one used in treating waste water.

A substance formed during a middle step of a chemical reaction between reactants and the desired product.

A document that contains information on the potential hazards and how to work safely with the chemical product. Now commonly referred to as Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

A substance that has a molecular structure consisting chiefly or entirely of a large number of similar units bonded together.

A substance or mixture for use in chemical analysis or other reactions.

Able to dissolve other substances.

A substance which tends to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved.

The state of being thick, sticky, and semifluid in consistency, due to internal friction.