Chemical Compounds
10 compounds
1,2-Dichloroethane
C₂H₄Cl₂1,2-Dichloroethane (EDC) is produced in larger quantities than any other chlorinated organic compound. Over 95% is converted to vinyl chloride …
1,3-Butadiene
C₄H₆1,3-Butadiene is a key monomer for synthetic rubber including styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) used in automobile tires.
1,4-Dioxane
C₄H₈O₂1,4-Dioxane is a cyclic ether used as a stabilizer in chlorinated solvents. It is a widespread groundwater contaminant and probable …
1-Butanol
C₄H₁₀O1-Butanol is a primary alcohol used as an industrial solvent and potential biofuel. It has a characteristic banana-like odor.
2-Propanol
C₃H₈OIsopropyl alcohol is a widely used solvent and disinfectant. It is the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol and many hand …
Acetaldehyde
CH₃CHOAcetaldehyde is a volatile organic compound and a metabolic intermediate in alcohol metabolism. It is responsible for many symptoms of …
Acetamide
C₂H₅NOAcetamide is the simplest amide derived from acetic acid. It is used as a plasticizer, solvent, and industrial chemical intermediate.
Acetic Acid
CH₃COOHAcetic acid is the main component of vinegar (3-5% solution). It is one of the simplest carboxylic acids and an …
Acetic Anhydride
C₄H₆O₃Acetic anhydride is a versatile acetylating agent essential for producing aspirin, cellulose acetate, and heroin. It is a closely monitored …
Acetone
(CH₃)₂COAcetone is the simplest ketone and one of the most versatile solvents. It evaporates quickly and is used as nail …
Acetonitrile
C₂H₃NAcetonitrile is a versatile polar aprotic solvent widely used in HPLC chromatography. A global shortage in 2008 disrupted pharmaceutical and …
Acetylene
C₂H₂Acetylene is the simplest alkyne, producing an extremely hot flame (3,300°C) when burned with oxygen. It is used in welding …
Acrolein
C₃H₄OAcrolein is the simplest unsaturated aldehyde and one of the most irritating compounds known. It is produced when fats are …
Acrylamide
C₃H₅NOAcrylamide is a key monomer for polyacrylamide, used in water treatment and gel electrophoresis. It also forms in starchy foods …
Acrylic Acid
C₃H₄O₂Acrylic acid is the simplest unsaturated carboxylic acid and a key monomer for acrylate polymers. It is used to make …
Acrylonitrile
C₃H₃NAcrylonitrile is a versatile monomer used to produce acrylic fibers, ABS plastics, and nitrile rubber. It is produced by the …
Adenine
C₅H₅N₅Adenine is a purine nucleobase that pairs with thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA. It is one of the …
Adenosine Triphosphate
C₁₀H₁₆N₅O₁₃P₃ATP is the primary energy currency of all living cells. It stores and transfers chemical energy by the hydrolysis of …
Adipic Acid
C₆H₁₀O₄Adipic acid is the most commercially important dicarboxylic acid. It is a key monomer for nylon-6,6 production, combined with hexamethylenediamine. …
Alanine
C₃H₇NO₂Alanine is a non-essential amino acid that is one of the most abundant amino acids in proteins. It plays a …
Alizarin
C₁₄H₈O₄Alizarin is a red dye historically obtained from madder root. The first commercial synthesis of alizarin in 1869 was a …
Alpha-Ketoglutaric Acid
C₅H₆O₅Alpha-ketoglutarate is a key intermediate in the citric acid cycle and plays a central role in amino acid metabolism through …
Aluminum Chloride
AlCl₃Aluminum chloride is a powerful Lewis acid catalyst essential for Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions in organic synthesis.
Aluminum Hydroxide
Al(OH)₃Aluminum hydroxide is an amphoteric substance used as an antacid and fire retardant. It can act as both an acid …
Aluminum Nitride
AlNAluminum nitride has exceptionally high thermal conductivity for a ceramic, making it ideal for electronic substrates and heat sinks in …
Aluminum Oxide
Al₂O₃Aluminum oxide (alumina) is an extremely hard ceramic material. Natural corundum, rubies, and sapphires are crystalline forms of Al₂O₃.
Ammonia
NH₃Ammonia is a pungent gas and one of the most produced industrial chemicals. It is the basis of the fertilizer …
Ammonium Bicarbonate
NH₄HCO₃Ammonium bicarbonate is a leavening agent that decomposes completely to gases when heated, leaving no residue. It is used in …
Ammonium Chloride
NH₄ClAmmonium chloride is a white crystalline salt with many industrial and historical uses. It is used in fertilizers, soldering flux, …
Ammonium Nitrate
NH₄NO₃Ammonium nitrate is a salt used as a high-nitrogen fertilizer and as an oxidizer in explosives. It can detonate if …
Ammonium Persulfate
(NH₄)₂S₂O₈Ammonium persulfate is the most commonly used initiator for free radical polymerization in emulsion and solution polymerizations.
Ammonium Sulfate
(NH₄)₂SO₄Ammonium sulfate is one of the oldest and most widely used nitrogen fertilizers. It provides both nitrogen and sulfur to …
Amoxicillin
C₁₆H₁₉N₃O₅SAmoxicillin is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic worldwide. It is a penicillin derivative with a broader spectrum of activity than …
Aniline
C₆H₇NAniline is the simplest aromatic amine and a key precursor for polyurethane production. It was historically important in the synthetic …
Aniline Black
C₆H₇NPolyaniline is a conducting polymer discovered in 1862 that changes color with pH and oxidation state. It is one of …
Antimony Trioxide
Sb₂O₃Antimony trioxide is the most important commercial antimony compound, primarily used as a flame retardant synergist with halogenated compounds.
Arginine
C₆H₁₄N₄O₂Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid that is a precursor to nitric oxide, a key signaling molecule for blood …
Arsine
AsH₃Arsine is an extremely toxic gas used in the semiconductor industry for gallium arsenide production. It is the most toxic …
Ascorbic Acid
C₆H₈O₆Ascorbic acid, or Vitamin C, is an essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant. Humans cannot synthesize it and must obtain it …
Asparagine
C₄H₈N₂O₃Asparagine was the first amino acid to be isolated, discovered in asparagus juice in 1806. It plays a role in …
Aspartame
C₁₄H₁₈N₂O₅Aspartame is an artificial sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is used in over 6,000 food products worldwide.
Aspartic Acid
C₄H₇NO₄Aspartic acid is a non-essential amino acid that plays a key role in the urea cycle and nucleotide synthesis. It …
Aspirin
C₉H₈O₄Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is one of the most widely used medications. It reduces pain, fever, and inflammation by inhibiting COX …
Atorvastatin
C₃₃H₃₅FN₂O₅Atorvastatin (Lipitor) was the best-selling pharmaceutical in history, generating over $125 billion in revenue. It lowers cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA …
Atrazine
C₈H₁₄ClN₅Atrazine is the second most widely used herbicide in the US, primarily on corn. It is banned in the EU …
Barium Carbonate
BaCO₃Barium carbonate is a white powder used in the manufacture of specialty glass, ceramics, and rat poison. It occurs naturally …
Barium Chloride
BaCl₂Barium chloride is a toxic white salt used as a reagent for sulfate testing and in the manufacture of pigments …
Barium Ferrite
BaFe₁₂O₁₉Barium ferrite is the most widely produced permanent magnet material by volume, used in loudspeakers, motors, and magnetic recording media.
Barium Hydroxide
Ba(OH)₂Barium hydroxide is a strong base used in analytical chemistry and organic synthesis. Its reaction with ammonium salts is famously …
Barium Oxide
BaOBarium oxide is a white solid that reacts exothermically with water. It was historically used as a drying agent and …
Barium Sulfate
BaSO₄Barium sulfate is an extremely insoluble salt used as a radiocontrast agent for X-ray imaging and in oil well drilling.
Barium Titanate
BaTiO₃Barium titanate was the first piezoelectric ceramic discovered and is used in capacitors, sensors, and transducers. It has an exceptionally …
Benzaldehyde
C₇H₆OBenzaldehyde is the simplest aromatic aldehyde and the primary component of bitter almond oil. It is widely used in food …
Benzene
C₆H₆Benzene is the simplest aromatic hydrocarbon, with a planar hexagonal ring of six carbon atoms. It is a fundamental building …
Benzoic Acid
C₇H₆O₂Benzoic acid is the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. Its sodium salt is one of the most common food preservatives worldwide.
Beryllium Oxide
BeOBeryllium oxide has a unique combination of high thermal conductivity and excellent electrical insulation. It conducts heat nearly as well …
Beta-Carotene
C₄₀H₅₆Beta-carotene is the orange pigment in carrots and the most important provitamin A carotenoid. The body converts it to retinol …
Biotin
C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₃SBiotin, or Vitamin B7, is a cofactor for carboxylase enzymes. It is widely marketed as a supplement for hair and …
Bismuth(III) Oxide
Bi₂O₃Bismuth(III) oxide is a bright yellow powder used in ceramics, glass, and as a precursor to other bismuth compounds. It …
Bisphenol A
C₁₅H₁₆O₂Bisphenol A is a chemical used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It has come under intense scrutiny as …
Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether
C₂₁H₂₄O₄BADGE is the basic building block of most epoxy resins, formed from bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin. It is the world's …
Boric Acid
H₃BO₃Boric acid is a weak, monobasic Lewis acid of boron. It is used as an antiseptic, insecticide, and flame retardant, …
Boron Nitride
BNBoron nitride exists in hexagonal (soft, lubricant) and cubic (ultra-hard) forms, analogous to graphite and diamond. Cubic BN is the …
Boron Trichloride
BCl₃Boron trichloride is a colorless gas that fumes in moist air and is used as a catalyst in organic synthesis …
Boron Trifluoride
BF₃Boron trifluoride is a powerful Lewis acid used as a catalyst in organic chemistry. Its electron-deficient boron atom accepts electron …
Boron Trioxide
B₂O₃Boron trioxide is a glassy solid that is one of the most important boron compounds. It is a key component …
Bromothymol Blue
C₂₇H₂₈Br₂O₅SBromothymol blue is a pH indicator that is yellow below pH 6.0 and blue above pH 7.6. It is widely …
Butane
C₄H₁₀Butane is a four-carbon alkane used as lighter fuel and aerosol propellant. It exists as two isomers: n-butane and isobutane.
Butyl Acetate
C₆H₁₂O₂Butyl acetate is a common industrial solvent with a fruity banana-like odor. It is widely used in lacquers, paints, and …
Butyraldehyde
C₄H₈OButyraldehyde is an aldehyde with a pungent odor produced on a large scale by hydroformylation of propylene. It is a …
Butyric Acid
C₄H₈O₂Butyric acid is a short-chain fatty acid with an intensely unpleasant rancid butter odor. It occurs naturally in butter and …
Cadmium Oxide
CdOCadmium oxide is a brown-black semiconductor used in cadmium plating and NiCd batteries. It is highly toxic and a known …
Cadmium Sulfide
CdSCadmium sulfide is a bright yellow pigment (cadmium yellow) used in artist paints and a semiconductor used in solar cells …
Caffeine
C₈H₁₀N₄O₂Caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance. It is a purine alkaloid that blocks adenosine receptors, reducing drowsiness.
Calcium Acetate
Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂Calcium acetate is a calcium salt of acetic acid used medicinally as a phosphate binder for patients with kidney disease. …
Calcium Aluminate Cement
CaO·Al₂O₃Calcium aluminate cement (CAC) sets and hardens much faster than Portland cement and is resistant to high temperatures and chemical …
Calcium Carbide
CaC₂Calcium carbide reacts with water to produce acetylene gas, which powered miners' lamps for decades. It is still used to …
Calcium Carbonate
CaCO₃Calcium carbonate is found in limestone, marble, chalk, and seashells. It is the most common calcium compound in nature.
Calcium Chloride
CaCl₂Calcium chloride is a hygroscopic salt that generates heat when dissolved in water. It is widely used for de-icing and …
Calcium Citrate
Ca₃(C₆H₅O₇)₂Calcium citrate is a calcium supplement with better absorption on an empty stomach than calcium carbonate. It is also used …
Calcium Fluoride
CaF₂Calcium fluoride is found naturally as the mineral fluorite, which displays beautiful fluorescence under UV light — the phenomenon of …
Calcium Hydride
CaH₂Calcium hydride is a drying agent and hydrogen source. It reacts with water to produce hydrogen gas and calcium hydroxide.
Calcium Hydroxide
Ca(OH)₂Calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) is produced by adding water to quicklime. It is used in construction, water treatment, and agriculture.
Calcium Hypochlorite
Ca(OCl)₂Calcium hypochlorite is a powerful oxidizing and bleaching agent sold as a white solid with a strong chlorine smell. It …
Calcium Oxide
CaOCalcium oxide (quicklime) is a white caustic substance produced by heating limestone. It reacts exothermically with water to form slaked …
Calcium Phosphate
Ca₃(PO₄)₂Tricalcium phosphate is the main mineral component of bone and tooth enamel. Hydroxyapatite, its natural form, makes up about 70% …
Calcium Propionate
Ca(C₂H₅COO)₂Calcium propionate (E282) is the most common bread preservative, preventing mold growth while providing calcium. It is naturally present in …
Calcium Silicate
CaSiO₃Calcium silicate is a white powder used in construction materials, food additives, and thermal insulation. It occurs naturally as the …
Calcium Sulfate
CaSO₄Calcium sulfate occurs naturally as gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) and anhydrite. Plaster of Paris is its hemihydrate form.
Calcium Tungstate
CaWO₄Calcium tungstate (scheelite) is the primary ore mineral for tungsten and fluoresces bright blue-white under UV light. It was used …
Camphor
C₁₀H₁₆OCamphor is a waxy terpene with a strong aromatic odor, obtained from the camphor laurel tree. It has been used …
Caprolactam
C₆H₁₁NOCaprolactam is the monomer used to produce nylon 6, one of the most widely used synthetic polymers. Over 5 million …
Capsaicin
C₁₈H₂₇NO₃Capsaicin is the chemical responsible for the heat in chili peppers. It activates TRPV1 pain receptors, producing a burning sensation …
Carbon Dioxide
CO₂Carbon dioxide is a colorless gas vital to life on Earth. It is produced by combustion, respiration, and volcanic activity, …
Carbon Disulfide
CS₂Carbon disulfide is a volatile, flammable liquid used in the production of viscose rayon and cellophane. It has a pleasant …
Carbonic Acid
H₂CO₃Carbonic acid forms when CO₂ dissolves in water. It plays a crucial role in the blood buffering system and ocean …
Carbon Monoxide
COCarbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion. It binds to hemoglobin 200 times more strongly …
Carvone
C₁₀H₁₄OCarvone is a classic example of chirality affecting odor: (R)-carvone smells like spearmint while (S)-carvone smells like caraway. They are …
Catechol
C₆H₆O₂Catechol is a dihydroxybenzene found in many natural polyphenols. It is used in photography, pharmaceutical synthesis, and as an antioxidant.
Cellulose
(C₆H₁₀O₅)ₙCellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth, forming the structural component of plant cell walls. It is a …
Cerium(III) Chloride
CeCl₃Cerium(III) chloride is the most common cerium salt, used in organic synthesis as a Lewis acid catalyst (Luche reduction) and …
Cerium(IV) Oxide
CeO₂Cerium(IV) oxide is the most commercially important compound of cerium, the most abundant rare earth element. It is used as …
Chitosan
(C₆H₁₁NO₄)ₙChitosan is derived from chitin in crustacean shells and is the second most abundant natural polysaccharide after cellulose. It has …
Chloric Acid
HClO₃Chloric acid is a powerful oxidizing acid whose salts (chlorates) are used in herbicides and pyrotechnics. It is unstable in …
Chloroform
CHCl₃Chloroform is a dense, sweet-smelling solvent historically used as an anesthetic. It is now primarily used to produce HCFC-22 refrigerant.
Chlorosulfonic Acid
ClSO₃HChlorosulfonic acid is an extremely corrosive liquid that reacts violently with water. It is used to introduce sulfonyl chloride groups …
Chlorous Acid
HClO₂Chlorous acid is an unstable weak acid whose sodium salt, sodium chlorite, is widely used in water purification and as …
Cholesterol
C₂₇H₄₆OCholesterol is an essential structural component of cell membranes and a precursor to steroid hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D.
Chromium(III) Chloride
CrCl₃Chromium(III) chloride is a purple-green salt used as a catalyst and mordant. Unlike hexavalent chromium compounds, trivalent chromium is relatively …
Chromium(III) Oxide
Cr₂O₃Chromium(III) oxide is a stable green pigment known as chrome green. It is one of the most durable inorganic pigments …
Chromium Trioxide
CrO₃Chromium trioxide is a powerful oxidizer and the source of hexavalent chromium in chrome plating baths. It is the most …
Cinnamaldehyde
C₉H₈OCinnamaldehyde is the compound that gives cinnamon its characteristic flavor and aroma. It constitutes 65-80% of cinnamon bark oil.
Cisplatin
Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂Cisplatin is one of the most effective anticancer drugs, used to treat testicular, ovarian, bladder, and many other cancers. It …
Citric Acid
C₆H₈O₇Citric acid is a weak organic acid found in citrus fruits. It is a key intermediate in the Krebs cycle …
Citronellal
C₁₀H₁₈OCitronellal is the primary component of citronella oil and gives it its characteristic lemony scent. It is the basis for …
Cobalt(II) Chloride
CoCl₂Cobalt(II) chloride changes from blue (anhydrous) to pink (hydrated) with moisture, making it a popular humidity indicator. It is used …
Cobalt(II) Oxide
CoOCobalt(II) oxide is a gray-green powder used as a blue coloring agent in ceramics and glass. It has been used …
Coenzyme A
C₂₁H₃₆N₇O₁₆P₃SCoenzyme A (CoA) is a coenzyme essential for synthesis and oxidation of fatty acids, and the citric acid cycle. Acetyl-CoA …
Congo Red
C₃₂H₂₂N₆Na₂O₆S₂Congo red is an azo dye historically important as the first direct dye for cotton. In medicine, it is used …
Copper(II) Chloride
CuCl₂Copper(II) chloride is a yellow-brown solid that turns green when hydrated. It is used as a catalyst, wood preservative, and …
Copper(II) Nitrate
Cu(NO₃)₂Copper(II) nitrate is a blue crystalline salt that is highly soluble in water. It is used in patina solutions for …
Copper(II) Oxide
CuOCopper(II) oxide is a black solid that occurs naturally as the mineral tenorite. It is used as a pigment, in …
Copper(II) Sulfate
CuSO₄Copper(II) sulfate forms striking blue crystals (pentahydrate form). It is used in agriculture as a fungicide and in crystal growing …
Copper(II) Sulfide
CuSCopper(II) sulfide, or covellite, is a dark blue-black mineral. It is an important copper ore and semiconductor material.
Copper(I) Oxide
Cu₂OCopper(I) oxide is a red powder used in antifouling paint for ship hulls and as a fungicide. It occurs naturally …
Coumarin
C₉H₆O₂Coumarin gives freshly cut hay and tonka beans their sweet vanilla-like scent. It is used in perfumery and as a …
Cumene
C₉H₁₂Cumene is an aromatic hydrocarbon primarily used in the cumene process to produce phenol and acetone simultaneously. Over 13 million …
Cyanoacrylate
C₅H₅NO₂Cyanoacrylate is the active ingredient in super glue. It polymerizes rapidly on contact with moisture, bonding surfaces within seconds.
Cyclohexane
C₆H₁₂Cyclohexane is a cyclic saturated hydrocarbon that adopts a chair conformation to minimize ring strain. It is produced primarily by …
Cyclohexanone
C₆H₁₀OCyclohexanone is a key industrial chemical and the principal precursor to caprolactam and adipic acid, which are used to make …
Cysteine
C₃H₇NO₂SCysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid critical for protein structure through disulfide bonds. It is used in food processing and …
Cytosine
C₄H₅N₃OCytosine is a pyrimidine nucleobase that pairs with guanine in both DNA and RNA through three hydrogen bonds. In DNA, …
DDT
C₁₄H₉Cl₅DDT was a revolutionary insecticide that helped eradicate malaria in many countries. It was banned in most nations after Rachel …
Diammonium Phosphate
(NH₄)₂HPO₄Diammonium phosphate (DAP) is the most widely used phosphorus fertilizer in the world. It provides both nitrogen and phosphorus essential …
Diazepam
C₁₆H₁₃ClN₂ODiazepam (Valium) is one of the most prescribed benzodiazepines, used for anxiety, seizures, and muscle spasms. It was the world's …
Diborane
B₂H₆Diborane is a colorless, pyrophoric gas with three-center two-electron bonds that challenged classical bonding theory. Its unusual 'banana bond' structure …
Dichloromethane
CH₂Cl₂Dichloromethane (DCM) is one of the most widely used organic solvents in chemistry. It is dense, volatile, and dissolves a …
Diethylene Glycol
C₄H₁₀O₃Diethylene glycol is an industrial solvent and antifreeze component. Its sweet taste has led to multiple mass poisoning events when …
Diethyl Ether
C₄H₁₀ODiethyl ether is a highly volatile and flammable liquid historically used as a general anesthetic. It is now primarily used …
Diethyl Phthalate
C₁₂H₁₄O₄Diethyl phthalate is one of the most commonly used plasticizers, making plastics more flexible. It is also used in cosmetics …
Diethyl Sulfate
C₄H₁₀O₄SDiethyl sulfate is a powerful ethylating agent used in organic synthesis. It is more reactive and toxic than dimethyl sulfate.
Dimethylacetamide
C₄H₉NODMAc is a powerful dipolar aprotic solvent used in the production of synthetic fibers and pharmaceutical manufacture.
Dimethylamine
C₂H₇NDimethylamine is a secondary amine with a fishy, ammoniacal odor. It is used to synthesize dimethylformamide, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.
Dimethyl Carbonate
C₃H₆O₃Dimethyl carbonate is a green solvent and methylating agent promoted as a safer replacement for phosgene and dimethyl sulfate in …
Dimethylformamide
C₃H₇NODMF is a polar aprotic solvent that dissolves a wide variety of organic and inorganic compounds. It is one of …
Dimethyl Sulfoxide
C₂H₆OSDMSO is a powerful polar aprotic solvent that can penetrate biological membranes. It is used in cryopreservation, pharmaceutical compounding, and …
Dimethyl Terephthalate
C₁₀H₁₀O₄DMT is one of the two main monomers used to produce PET plastic (the other being terephthalic acid). It is …
DMSO
C₂H₆OSDMSO is a powerful solvent that can penetrate skin and carry dissolved substances into the bloodstream. It has a characteristic …
Dopamine
C₈H₁₁NO₂Dopamine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter that plays a central role in reward, motivation, and motor control. It is synthesized from …
EDTA
C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₈EDTA is a powerful chelating agent that binds metal ions. It is used in medicine to treat heavy metal poisoning …
Epichlorohydrin
C₃H₅ClOEpichlorohydrin is a versatile building block for epoxy resins, glycerol production, and water treatment chemicals. Over 2 million tonnes are …
Epoxy Resin DGEBA
C₂₁H₂₄O₄DGEBA-based epoxy resins are the most widely used thermosetting polymers, found in adhesives, coatings, and composites. They cure with hardeners …
Ethane
C₂H₆Ethane is a two-carbon alkane, the second simplest hydrocarbon. It is used primarily as a feedstock for ethylene production through …
Ethanol
C₂H₅OHEthanol (drinking alcohol) is the alcohol in beverages, produced by fermentation. It is also a major biofuel and industrial solvent.
Ethyl Acetate
C₄H₈O₂Ethyl acetate is a widely used organic solvent with a sweet, fruity odor. It is the most common ester in …
Ethylbenzene
C₈H₁₀Ethylbenzene is produced in enormous quantities as an intermediate to styrene. Over 99% of ethylbenzene is dehydrogenated to make styrene …
Ethylene
C₂H₄Ethylene is the simplest alkene and the most produced organic compound worldwide. It is the key monomer for polyethylene plastic.
Ethylene Carbonate
C₃H₄O₃Ethylene carbonate is a cyclic carbonate used as a solvent in lithium-ion battery electrolytes. It has a high dielectric constant …
Ethylene Glycol
C₂H₆O₂Ethylene glycol is the primary ingredient in most automotive antifreeze. It has a sweet taste that makes it dangerous to …
Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether
C₄H₁₀O₂2-Ethoxyethanol is a versatile solvent used in paints, varnishes, and cleaning solutions. It combines properties of both ethers and alcohols.
Ethylene Oxide
C₂H₄OEthylene oxide is a cyclic ether and the simplest epoxide. It is one of the most versatile chemical intermediates, used …
Eugenol
C₁₀H₁₂O₂Eugenol is the main component of clove oil and has been used as a dental analgesic for centuries. It has …
Ferrocene
Fe(C₅H₅)₂Ferrocene was the first sandwich compound discovered, with an iron atom sandwiched between two cyclopentadienyl rings. Its discovery revolutionized organometallic …
Ferrous Gluconate
C₁₂H₂₂FeO₁₄Ferrous gluconate is an iron supplement with better GI tolerance than ferrous sulfate. It is also used as a food …
Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide
C₂₇H₃₃N₉O₁₅P₂FAD is a redox-active coenzyme involved in many metabolic reactions, especially in the electron transport chain and citric acid cycle.
Fluorescein
C₂₀H₁₂O₅Fluorescein is a synthetic fluorescent dye that glows bright green under UV light. It is used in ophthalmology, water tracing, …
Folic Acid
C₁₉H₁₉N₇O₆Folic acid (Vitamin B9) is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division. Mandatory food fortification has dramatically reduced neural tube …
Formaldehyde
CH₂OFormaldehyde is the simplest aldehyde, used in resins and as a preservative. Formalin (37% formaldehyde in water) is used to …
Formamide
CH₃NOFormamide is the simplest amide and a powerful solvent that can dissolve many inorganic salts. It is used in pharmaceutical …
Formic Acid
CH₂O₂Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid, naturally found in ant venom. It is used in textile dyeing, leather tanning, …
Freon-12
CCl₂F₂Freon-12 (CFC-12) was the most widely used refrigerant until the Montreal Protocol banned it for depleting the ozone layer. It …
Fructose
C₆H₁₂O₆Fructose is the sweetest naturally occurring sugar, found abundantly in fruits and honey. It is metabolized primarily in the liver.
Fumaric Acid
C₄H₄O₄Fumaric acid is the trans isomer of butenedioic acid and an intermediate in the citric acid cycle. It is used …
Furan
C₄H₄OFuran is an oxygen-containing aromatic heterocycle that forms in food during high-temperature cooking. It is a precursor for important industrial …
Galactose
C₆H₁₂O₆Galactose is a monosaccharide that combines with glucose to form lactose in milk. Galactosemia is a genetic inability to metabolize …
Gallium Arsenide
GaAsGallium arsenide is a semiconductor with superior electron mobility compared to silicon. It is used in solar cells, LEDs, laser …
Gallium(III) Oxide
Ga₂O₃Gallium(III) oxide is an emerging ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor that could surpass silicon carbide and gallium nitride in power electronics applications.
Geraniol
C₁₀H₁₈OGeraniol is a monoterpenoid and the primary component of rose oil and citronella oil. It is widely used in perfumery …
Germanium Dioxide
GeO₂Germanium dioxide is the most important germanium compound commercially, used in fiber optics, infrared optics, and as a polymerization catalyst …
Glucose
C₆H₁₂O₆Glucose is the primary energy source for cells in all living organisms. It is a monosaccharide (simple sugar) and the …
Glutamic Acid
C₅H₉NO₄Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid that is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its sodium salt, …
Glutamine
C₅H₁₀N₂O₃Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in human blood and muscle tissue. It is conditionally essential during stress, …
Glycerol
C₃H₈O₃Glycerol is a sweet, viscous trihydric alcohol found in all fats and oils. It is a byproduct of soap and …
Glycine
C₂H₅NO₂Glycine is the simplest amino acid and the only one that is achiral (not optically active). It is a major …
Glycolic Acid
C₂H₄O₃Glycolic acid is the smallest alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), widely used in skincare for chemical peeling. It has the best skin …
Glyphosate
C₃H₈NO₅PGlyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world, sold as Roundup. It kills plants by inhibiting an enzyme …
Guanine
C₅H₅N₅OGuanine is a purine nucleobase that pairs with cytosine in both DNA and RNA through three hydrogen bonds. It was …
Hexane
C₆H₁₄Hexane is a six-carbon straight-chain alkane that is one of the most commonly used nonpolar solvents. It is widely used …
Histidine
C₆H₉N₃O₂Histidine is a conditionally essential amino acid containing an imidazole side chain. It is the precursor to histamine and plays …
Hydrazine
N₂H₄Hydrazine is a powerful reducing agent used as a rocket propellant, boiler water treatment, and chemical intermediate. It has a …
Hydrobromic Acid
HBrHydrobromic acid is a strong acid used in organic synthesis and as a catalyst. It is the second strongest hydrohalic …
Hydrochloric Acid
HClHydrochloric acid is a strong mineral acid found naturally in gastric acid. It is one of the most commonly used …
Hydrofluoric Acid
HFHydrofluoric acid is unique among hydrohalic acids — it is weak but extremely dangerous. It can dissolve glass and penetrate …
Hydrogen Cyanide
HCNHydrogen cyanide is an extremely toxic compound with a faint bitter almond odor. It inhibits cytochrome c oxidase, blocking cellular …
Hydrogen Peroxide
H₂O₂Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizer that decomposes into water and oxygen. It is used as a disinfectant, bleach, and …
Hydrogen Sulfide
H₂SHydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas with a distinctive rotten egg smell. It is produced by bacterial decomposition and found …
Hydroquinone
C₆H₆O₂Hydroquinone is a depigmenting agent that inhibits melanin production. It is used in skin lightening products and as a photographic …
Hydroxylamine
NH₃OHydroxylamine is a reducing agent and nucleophile used in organic synthesis to produce oximes, hydroxamic acids, and various pharmaceuticals.
Hypochlorous Acid
HClOHypochlorous acid is a weak acid and powerful oxidizing agent. It is the active sanitizing agent produced when chlorine dissolves …
Ibuprofen
C₁₃H₁₈O₂Ibuprofen is one of the world's most widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Discovered in the 1960s, it is now …
Imidazole
C₃H₄N₂Imidazole is an aromatic heterocycle found in the amino acid histidine. Many antifungal drugs contain imidazole rings.
Indigo
C₁₆H₁₀N₂O₂Indigo is the oldest known vat dye, used to color blue jeans since 1873. Natural indigo was one of the …
Indium Tin Oxide
In₂O₃·SnO₂Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a transparent conducting oxide used in virtually all touchscreens, LCD displays, and OLED panels. It …
Iron(III) Chloride
FeCl₃Iron(III) chloride is a dark, hygroscopic compound used as a water treatment agent and printed circuit board etchant.
Iron(II,III) Oxide
Fe₃O₄Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) is the most magnetic naturally occurring mineral on Earth. It is the oldest known magnetic material and was …
Iron(III) Oxide
Fe₂O₃Iron(III) oxide, commonly known as rust or hematite, is a reddish-brown solid. It is the most common iron ore and …
Iron(III) Sulfate
Fe₂(SO₄)₃Iron(III) sulfate is a yellow-brown salt used in water treatment as a coagulant and in etching printed circuit boards.
Iron(II) Oxide
FeOIron(II) oxide (wustite) is a non-stoichiometric black mineral. It is thermodynamically unstable and tends to disproportionate to iron and Fe₃O₄.
Iron(II) Sulfate
FeSO₄Iron(II) sulfate (ferrous sulfate) is used as an iron supplement and in water treatment. Its green vitriol form has been …
Iron(II) Sulfide
FeSIron(II) sulfide occurs naturally as troilite and pyrrhotite. It is used to generate hydrogen sulfide in laboratory settings and in …
Isoleucine
C₆H₁₃NO₂Isoleucine is a branched-chain essential amino acid crucial for hemoglobin synthesis and blood sugar regulation.
Isoprene
C₅H₈Isoprene is the monomer of natural rubber and one of the most important hydrocarbons in biology. Trees emit over 500 …
Isopropanol
C₃H₈OIsopropanol (rubbing alcohol) is the most widely used disinfectant alcohol. A 70% solution is more effective at killing bacteria than …
Kaolinite
Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄Kaolinite is a clay mineral used in paper coating, ceramics, and medicine. Kaolin clay gives porcelain its white color and …
Kevlar
(C₁₄H₁₀N₂O₂)ₙKevlar is an aramid fiber five times stronger than steel by weight. Invented by Stephanie Kwolek in 1965, it is …
Lactic Acid
C₃H₆O₃Lactic acid is produced during anaerobic metabolism in muscles and by bacteria during fermentation. It gives yogurt and sauerkraut their …
Lactose
C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁Lactose is the primary sugar in milk, composed of glucose and galactose. About 65% of the global population has reduced …
Lanthanum Oxide
La₂O₃Lanthanum oxide is used in optical glass, catalytic converters, and as a phosphate binder in medicine. It is a key …
Lead(II) Oxide
PbOLead(II) oxide, or litharge, is a yellow to reddish crystalline powder. It has been used in lead-acid batteries, ceramics, and …
Lead(II) Silicate Glass
PbO·SiO₂Lead crystal glass contains 24-35% lead oxide, giving it high refractive index, brilliance, and a clear ringing tone. It has …
Lead(II) Sulfide
PbSLead(II) sulfide, or galena, is the most important ore of lead and was one of the first semiconductors discovered. Ancient …
Lead Zirconate Titanate
Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃PZT is the most widely used piezoelectric ceramic material, found in sensors, actuators, and ultrasound transducers. It converts mechanical stress …
Leucine
C₆H₁₃NO₂Leucine is a branched-chain essential amino acid important for muscle protein synthesis. It is the most abundant amino acid in …
Limonene
C₁₀H₁₆Limonene is a cyclic terpene responsible for the citrus scent of orange and lemon peels. It is widely used as …
Linalool
C₁₀H₁₈OLinalool is a terpene alcohol found in over 200 plant species including lavender, basil, and cinnamon. It is one of …
Linoleic Acid
C₁₈H₃₂O₂Linoleic acid is an essential omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid that humans must obtain from diet. It is abundant in vegetable …
Lithium Aluminum Hydride
LiAlH₄LiAlH4 (LAH) is one of the most powerful reducing agents in organic chemistry. It reduces esters, carboxylic acids, and amides …
Lithium Carbonate
Li₂CO₃Lithium carbonate is the most important lithium compound commercially. It is used to treat bipolar disorder and in lithium-ion battery …
Lithium Cobalt Oxide
LiCoO₂LiCoO₂ was the first commercially successful lithium-ion battery cathode, used in smartphones and laptops since 1991. It offers high energy …
Lithium Fluoride
LiFLithium fluoride is a white crystalline salt notable for its extremely low solubility compared to other alkali metal halides. It …
Lithium Hydroxide
LiOHLithium hydroxide is a strong base used in spacecraft and submarines to scrub CO₂ from air. It absorbs CO₂ more …
Lithium Iron Phosphate
LiFePO₄LFP is a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries offering excellent safety, cycle life, and cost compared to cobalt-based cathodes. It …
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide
LiNi₀.₃₃Mn₀.₃₃Co₀.₃₃O₂NMC is the most widely used cathode chemistry in electric vehicle batteries. Different Ni:Mn:Co ratios trade off energy density against …
Lithium Niobate
LiNbO₃Lithium niobate is a crystal with exceptional electro-optic, piezoelectric, and nonlinear optical properties. It is called the 'silicon of photonics'.
Lycopene
C₄₀H₅₆Lycopene is the red pigment in tomatoes and watermelons. It is one of the most potent antioxidant carotenoids and may …
Lysine
C₆H₁₄N₂O₂Lysine is an essential amino acid critical for collagen formation, calcium absorption, and immune function. It is the most limiting …
Magnesium Carbonate
MgCO₃Magnesium carbonate occurs naturally as the mineral magnesite. It is used as a drying agent, antacid, and in athletic chalk …
Magnesium Chloride
MgCl₂Magnesium chloride is the primary source of magnesium metal via electrolysis. It is also used as a road de-icer, tofu …
Magnesium Hydroxide
Mg(OH)₂Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia) is a weak base commonly used as an antacid and laxative.
Magnesium Oxide
MgOMagnesium oxide is a white hygroscopic solid with an extremely high melting point. It is used as an antacid and …
Magnesium Silicate
Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂Talc (hydrous magnesium silicate) is the softest known mineral, rated 1 on the Mohs hardness scale. Its layered crystal structure …
Magnesium Sulfate
MgSO₄Magnesium sulfate is commonly known as Epsom salt (in its hydrated form MgSO₄·7H₂O). It is used in bath salts and …
Maleic Acid
C₄H₄O₄Maleic acid is the cis isomer of butenedioic acid and a key industrial chemical. Its anhydride is one of the …
Maleic Anhydride
C₄H₂O₃Maleic anhydride is a key industrial chemical used to make unsaturated polyester resins, coatings, and agricultural chemicals.
Malic Acid
C₄H₆O₅Malic acid is responsible for the sour taste of green apples. Its name derives from Latin 'malum' (apple) and it …
Maltose
C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁Maltose, or malt sugar, is a disaccharide formed from two glucose units. It is produced during the germination of grains, …
Manganese Dioxide
MnO₂Manganese dioxide is a black mineral that occurs naturally as pyrolusite. It is the primary cathode material in alkaline and …
Mannitol
C₆H₁₄O₆Mannitol is a sugar alcohol used medically to reduce intracranial and intraocular pressure. It occurs naturally in seaweed, mushrooms, and …
Melamine
C₃H₆N₆Melamine is used to produce melamine resin (used in laminates like Formica) and melamine foam (Magic Eraser). It gained infamy …
Melatonin
C₁₃H₁₆N₂O₂Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in response to darkness that regulates the circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle). …
Menthol
C₁₀H₂₀OMenthol is a cyclic monoterpene alcohol that activates cold-sensitive TRPM8 receptors, producing a cooling sensation. It is extracted from mint …
Mercury(I) Chloride
Hg₂Cl₂Calomel (Hg₂Cl₂) was historically used as a medicine, laxative, and teething powder despite its toxicity. It is now mainly used …
Mercury(II) Sulfide
HgSMercury(II) sulfide occurs naturally as cinnabar, a brilliant red mineral used as a pigment since ancient times. It was the …
Metformin
C₄H₁₁N₅Metformin is the most prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes worldwide. Originally derived from French lilac, it is now being …
Methane
CH₄Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon and the primary component of natural gas. It is a potent greenhouse gas, approximately 80× …
Methanol
CH₃OHMethanol (wood alcohol) is the simplest alcohol. It is toxic to humans — as little as 10 mL can cause …
Methionine
C₅H₁₁NO₂SMethionine is an essential sulfur-containing amino acid that serves as the initiator of protein synthesis in all eukaryotic cells.
Methylamine
CH₅NMethylamine is the simplest primary amine with a strong fishy odor. It is an important building block for pharmaceuticals and …
Methyl Benzoate
C₈H₈O₂Methyl benzoate is an ester with a pleasant aromatic odor reminiscent of fruits. It occurs naturally in many plants and …
Methyl Bromide
CH₃BrMethyl bromide was one of the most effective soil fumigants until being phased out under the Montreal Protocol for ozone …
Methylene Blue
C₁₆H₁₈ClN₃SMethylene blue is a synthetic dye with important medical applications. It is used to treat methemoglobinemia and is on the …
Methylene Chloride
CH₂Cl₂Dichloromethane is one of the most versatile solvents in organic chemistry and industry. It is one of the few chlorinated …
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
C₄H₈OMEK is a common industrial solvent used in lacquers, adhesives, and cleaning agents. It is also used in dewaxing lubricating …
Methyl Isocyanate
C₂H₃NOMethyl isocyanate (MIC) is a highly reactive and toxic chemical used in pesticide manufacturing. It was the chemical released in …
Methyl Methacrylate
C₅H₈O₂Methyl methacrylate is the monomer used to produce polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), known commercially as Plexiglas, Lucite, or acrylic glass. It …
Methyl Salicylate
C₈H₈O₃Methyl salicylate, or oil of wintergreen, is a naturally occurring ester with a distinctive minty-sweet scent. It is used in …
Methyl tert-Butyl Ether
C₅H₁₂OMTBE was widely used as a gasoline additive to increase octane rating and reduce emissions. Its use has been restricted …
Molybdenum Disulfide
MoS₂Molybdenum disulfide is a layered compound with excellent lubricating properties. Its layers can slide over each other like graphite, making …
Molybdenum Trioxide
MoO₃Molybdenum trioxide is the primary industrial source of molybdenum. It is used as a catalyst, pigment, and precursor for molybdenum …
Monosodium Citrate
C₆H₇NaO₇Monosodium citrate is a food additive used as an acidity regulator and sequestrant. It is commonly used in beverages and …
Monosodium Glutamate
C₅H₈NNaO₄MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, widely used as a flavor enhancer that imparts umami taste. It was …
Monosodium Phosphate
NaH₂PO₄Monosodium phosphate is a food additive used as an emulsifier, leavening acid, and buffering agent. It is also used in …
Morphine
C₁₇H₁₉NO₃Morphine is the prototypical opioid analgesic, isolated from opium in 1804. It remains the gold standard against which all painkillers …
Naphthalene
C₁₀H₈Naphthalene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with a characteristic mothball odor. It consists of two fused benzene rings.
Naproxen
C₁₄H₁₄O₃Naproxen is an NSAID with a longer duration of action than ibuprofen, allowing twice-daily dosing. It was prescription-only until 1994 …
Neodymium(III) Oxide
Nd₂O₃Neodymium oxide is the precursor for neodymium metal used in the strongest permanent magnets. These NdFeB magnets are in every …
Niacin
C₆H₅NO₂Niacin, or Vitamin B3, is essential for metabolism. Its deficiency causes pellagra, which was epidemic in the American South in …
Nickel Carbonyl
Ni(CO)₄Nickel carbonyl is an extremely toxic organometallic compound used in the Mond process for purifying nickel. It decomposes to deposit …
Nickel(II) Oxide
NiONickel(II) oxide is a green-black crystalline solid used in ceramics, nickel alloy production, and as a catalyst. It exhibits interesting …
Nickel(II) Sulfate
NiSO₄Nickel(II) sulfate is the most important nickel salt commercially, primarily used in electroplating and nickel-cadmium battery production.
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
C₂₁H₂₇N₇O₁₄P₂NAD+ is a coenzyme central to metabolism, found in every living cell. It carries electrons in redox reactions and is …
Nicotine
C₁₀H₁₄N₂Nicotine is the primary addictive compound in tobacco, acting on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain. It was used as …
Niobium Pentoxide
Nb₂O₅Niobium pentoxide is used in high-refractive-index optical coatings, capacitors, and as a catalyst. Niobium is considered a critical raw material.
Nitric Acid
HNO₃Nitric acid is a highly corrosive strong acid used in fertilizer and explosives production. Combined with hydrochloric acid, it forms …
Nitric Acid Fuming
HNO₃Fuming nitric acid (>86% concentration) is a powerful oxidizer used in rocket propellants and explosives manufacturing. It produces toxic brown …
Nitric Oxide
NONitric oxide is a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system. Its discovery as a biological messenger won the 1998 Nobel …
Nitrogen Dioxide
NO₂Nitrogen dioxide is a reddish-brown toxic gas with a sharp, biting odor. It is a major air pollutant from vehicle …
Nitrogen Trifluoride
NF₃NF₃ is a colorless gas widely used in the semiconductor industry for plasma etching and chamber cleaning of chemical vapor …
Nitroglycerin
C₃H₅N₃O₉Nitroglycerin is a powerful explosive liquid that is also a vasodilator medication for angina (chest pain). Alfred Nobel made it …
Nitrous Oxide
N₂ONitrous oxide (laughing gas) is used as an anesthetic in dentistry and as a propellant in whipped cream cans. It …
N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone
C₅H₉NONMP is a powerful polar aprotic solvent used in petrochemical processing, electronics manufacturing, and pharmaceutical synthesis.
Nomex
(C₁₄H₁₀N₂O₂)ₙNomex is a heat-resistant aramid fiber used in firefighter gear, race car driver suits, and electrical insulation. It does not …
Nylon-6,6
(C₁₂H₂₂N₂O₂)ₙNylon-6,6 was the first commercially successful synthetic polymer, developed by Wallace Carothers at DuPont in 1935. It revolutionized the textile …
Octane
C₈H₁₈Octane is an eight-carbon alkane and a major component of gasoline. The 'octane rating' of fuel is based on isooctane's …
Oleic Acid
C₁₈H₃₄O₂Oleic acid is the most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid in nature, making up 55-80% of olive oil. It is associated …
Omeprazole
C₁₇H₁₉N₃O₃SOmeprazole was the first proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and revolutionized the treatment of acid reflux and stomach ulcers. It reduces …
Osmium Tetroxide
OsO₄Osmium tetroxide is a powerful oxidizing agent used to stain biological tissue for electron microscopy and to dihydroxylate alkenes in …
Oxalic Acid
C₂H₂O₄Oxalic acid is the simplest dicarboxylic acid, found naturally in many plants including rhubarb and spinach. It is used as …
Oxaloacetic Acid
C₄H₄O₅Oxaloacetate is essential for the citric acid cycle, condensing with acetyl-CoA to form citrate. It also serves as a gluconeogenesis …
Ozone
O₃Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen with three atoms per molecule. Stratospheric ozone shields Earth from UV radiation, while ground-level …
Palladium(II) Chloride
PdCl₂Palladium(II) chloride is a key starting material for palladium catalysts used in cross-coupling reactions that won the 2010 Nobel Prize …
Palmitic Acid
C₁₆H₃₂O₂Palmitic acid is the most common saturated fatty acid found in animals, plants, and microorganisms. It was first discovered in …
Paracetamol
C₈H₉NO₂Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is the most commonly used medication for pain and fever worldwide. Its exact mechanism of action remains partially …
Penicillin G
C₁₆H₁₈N₂O₄SPenicillin G was the first antibiotic discovered, by Alexander Fleming in 1928 from the mold Penicillium notatum. It works by …
Perchloric Acid
HClO₄Perchloric acid is one of the strongest mineral acids known. It is a powerful oxidizer that can cause explosive reactions …
Perchloroethylene
C₂Cl₄Perchloroethylene (perc) is the dominant solvent in the dry cleaning industry, used by about 85% of dry cleaners. It is …
Periodic Acid
HIO₄Periodic acid is a powerful and selective oxidizer that cleaves 1,2-diols. It is essential in carbohydrate chemistry for structural analysis.
PETN
C₅H₈N₄O₁₂PETN is one of the most powerful commonly available explosives and the active component of detonating cord. It is also …
Phenol
C₆H₅OHPhenol (carbolic acid) was the first surgical antiseptic used by Joseph Lister in 1865. It is now used primarily in …
Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin
(C₇H₆O₂)ₙBakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, is a phenol-formaldehyde resin invented in 1907. It launched the Age of Plastics and …
Phenolphthalein
C₂₀H₁₄O₄Phenolphthalein is the most famous acid-base indicator, turning pink in basic solutions. It was also used as a laxative until …
Phenylacetic Acid
C₈H₈O₂Phenylacetic acid is an organic acid with a honey-like odor that is a precursor to penicillin G. It is a …
Phenylalanine
C₉H₁₁NO₂Phenylalanine is an essential aromatic amino acid and a precursor to tyrosine, dopamine, and adrenaline. People with phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot …
Phosgene
COCl₂Phosgene is a toxic, colorless gas that smells like freshly mown hay. It was used as a chemical weapon in …
Phosphine
PH₃Phosphine is a toxic gas with a garlic or rotten fish odor. Its detection in Venus's atmosphere in 2020 sparked …
Phosphoric Acid
H₃PO₄Phosphoric acid is a weak triprotic acid commonly used in soft drinks and fertilizers. It gives cola beverages their characteristic …
Phosphorus Pentoxide
P₄O₁₀Phosphorus pentoxide is the most powerful desiccant (drying agent) known. It is so hygroscopic that it reacts violently with water, …
Phosphorus Trichloride
PCl₃Phosphorus trichloride is one of the most important phosphorus compounds in industrial chemistry, used to make pesticides, plasticizers, and flame …
Phthalic Acid
C₈H₆O₄Phthalic acid is an aromatic dicarboxylic acid primarily used to make phthalate plasticizers and polyester resins. Its anhydride is a …
Phthalic Anhydride
C₈H₄O₃Phthalic anhydride is one of the most important industrial organic chemicals, used to make plasticizers, alkyd resins, and dyes.
Platinum(IV) Chloride
PtCl₄Platinum(IV) chloride is a reddish-brown salt used as a catalyst precursor. Platinum catalysts are essential in automotive catalytic converters and …
Plutonium Dioxide
PuO₂Plutonium dioxide is used in mixed oxide (MOX) nuclear fuel and in radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) that power deep space …
Polyacrylonitrile
(C₃H₃N)ₙPolyacrylonitrile (PAN) is the primary precursor for carbon fiber production, accounting for about 90% of all carbon fiber made.
Polycarbonate
(C₁₆H₁₄O₃)ₙPolycarbonate is an extremely tough, transparent thermoplastic. It is virtually unbreakable under normal conditions, with impact resistance 250 times that …
Polyethylene
(C₂H₄)ₙPolyethylene is the most widely produced plastic in the world, with annual production exceeding 100 million tonnes. It comes in …
Polyethylene Terephthalate
(C₁₀H₈O₄)ₙPET is one of the most recycled plastics worldwide. It is clear, strong, and lightweight, making it ideal for beverage …
Polyhydroxybutyrate
(C₄H₆O₂)ₙPHB is a biodegradable polyester produced naturally by bacteria as an energy storage material. It is being developed as an …
Polylactic Acid
(C₃H₄O₂)ₙPLA is a biodegradable polymer made from corn starch or sugarcane. It is the most widely used bioplastic, found in …
Polymethyl Methacrylate
(C₅H₈O₂)ₙPMMA (Plexiglas/Lucite) is a transparent thermoplastic often used as a lightweight, shatter-resistant alternative to glass.
Polypropylene
(C₃H₆)ₙPolypropylene is the second most widely produced plastic polymer. It has excellent chemical resistance, elasticity, and fatigue resistance. It can …
Polystyrene
(C₈H₈)ₙPolystyrene is a versatile plastic that can be rigid or foamed. Expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) is 95-98% air, giving it excellent …
Polytetrafluoroethylene
(C₂F₄)ₙPTFE, marketed as Teflon, has the lowest coefficient of friction of any known solid. The strong C-F bonds make it …
Polyurethane
(C₃H₂NO)ₙPolyurethane is one of the most versatile polymers, produced as flexible foam, rigid foam, coatings, adhesives, and elastomers.
Polyvinyl Chloride
(C₂H₃Cl)ₙPolyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic polymer. It is inherently rigid and flame-resistant but can be made …
Potassium Aluminum Sulfate
KAl(SO₄)₂Potash alum is a double salt used in water purification, pickling, and as an astringent. It has been used since …
Potassium Bitartrate
KHC₄H₄O₆Potassium bitartrate, known as cream of tartar, is a byproduct of winemaking that crystallizes in wine barrels. It is the …
Potassium Carbonate
K₂CO₃Potassium carbonate, or potash, is historically one of the most important industrial chemicals. It is used in glass making, soap …
Potassium Chloride
KClPotassium chloride is a salt used as a fertilizer and salt substitute. It is the most common potassium compound in …
Potassium Chromate
K₂CrO₄Potassium chromate is a bright yellow salt used as an indicator in argentometric titrations and as a corrosion inhibitor.
Potassium Cyanide
KCNPotassium cyanide is an extremely toxic salt that has been used in gold mining, electroplating, and organic synthesis. It is …
Potassium Dichromate
K₂Cr₂O₇Potassium dichromate is a bright orange crystalline oxidizing agent used in analytical chemistry and industrial processes.
Potassium Feldspar
KAlSi₃O₈Potassium feldspar (orthoclase) is the most common mineral in Earth's crust. It is essential in ceramic and glass manufacture.
Potassium Ferricyanide
K₃[Fe(CN)₆]Potassium ferricyanide is a bright red salt used in blueprint photography, electroplating, and as a mild oxidizing agent. Despite containing …
Potassium Ferrocyanide
K₄[Fe(CN)₆]Potassium ferrocyanide is a yellow salt commonly used as an anti-caking agent in table salt (E536). It is much less …
Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate
KHC₄H₄O₆Cream of tartar is a byproduct of winemaking that crystallizes inside wine barrels. It is used in baking as a …
Potassium Hydroxide
KOHPotassium hydroxide (caustic potash) is a strong base used in liquid soaps, biodiesel production, and alkaline batteries.
Potassium Iodate
KIO₃Potassium iodate is used for iodization of salt in many developing countries because it is more stable than potassium iodide …
Potassium Iodide
KIPotassium iodide is a salt used to protect the thyroid gland from radiation and to treat iodine deficiency. It is …
Potassium Nitrate
KNO₃Potassium nitrate (saltpeter) is a key component of gunpowder and an important fertilizer. It provides both potassium and nitrogen to …
Potassium Permanganate
KMnO₄Potassium permanganate is a powerful oxidizing agent that produces deep purple solutions. It is used in water treatment and organic …
Potassium Permanganate Solution
KMnO₄(aq)Potassium permanganate solution is a deep purple aqueous disinfectant used in wound care, water treatment, and fruit and vegetable washing. …
Potassium Persulfate
K₂S₂O₈Potassium persulfate is a powerful oxidizer used to initiate free radical polymerization and as a PCB etchant. It decomposes to …
Potassium Phosphate Dibasic
K₂HPO₄Dipotassium phosphate is a highly soluble salt used as a fertilizer, food additive, and buffer in biological research.
Potassium Sorbate
C₆H₇KO₂Potassium sorbate (E202) is a widely used food preservative effective against molds and yeasts. It is considered one of the …
Potassium Sulfate
K₂SO₄Potassium sulfate is a premium potassium fertilizer preferred for chloride-sensitive crops like tobacco, grapes, and citrus.
Potassium Thiocyanate
KSCNPotassium thiocyanate is a colorless salt used as a reagent to detect iron(III) ions, producing a characteristic blood-red color.
Potassium Titanyl Phosphate
KTiOPO₄KTP is a nonlinear optical crystal used to frequency-double Nd:YAG lasers, producing green 532 nm light. It is the crystal …
Proline
C₅H₉NO₂Proline is unique among the standard amino acids as it has a cyclic side chain bonded to both the nitrogen …
Propane
C₃H₈Propane is a three-carbon alkane commonly used as LPG fuel. It liquefies under moderate pressure, making it easy to store …
Propionic Acid
C₃H₆O₂Propionic acid is a naturally occurring carboxylic acid with a pungent odor. It is widely used as a food preservative …
Propylene Glycol
C₃H₈O₂Propylene glycol is a viscous, nearly odorless liquid used as a humectant in food, pharmaceutical excipient, and antifreeze. It is …
Propylene Oxide
C₃H₆OPropylene oxide is a small, strained-ring ether used to make polyether polyols, which are the backbone of polyurethane foams. About …
Purine
C₅H₄N₄Purine is the parent compound of adenine and guanine, two of the five nucleobases in DNA and RNA. Purines are …
Pyridine
C₅H₅NPyridine is a basic heterocyclic aromatic compound with a characteristic unpleasant fishy odor. It is a fundamental building block in …
Pyridoxine
C₈H₁₁NO₃Pyridoxine, or Vitamin B6, is involved in over 100 enzyme reactions in amino acid metabolism. It is one of the …
Pyrimidine
C₄H₄N₂Pyrimidine is the parent compound of three of the five nucleobases in DNA and RNA (cytosine, thymine, uracil). It is …
Pyruvic Acid
C₃H₄O₃Pyruvic acid is the end product of glycolysis and a central molecule in metabolism. It sits at the crossroads of …
RDX
C₃H₆N₆O₆RDX is a powerful military explosive more potent than TNT. It is a key component of C-4 plastic explosive and …
Resorcinol
C₆H₆O₂Resorcinol is a dihydroxybenzene isomer used in dermatology to treat acne, eczema, and dandruff. It is also used in adhesive …
Retinol
C₂₀H₃₀ORetinol (vitamin A) is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for vision, immune function, and cell growth. It is the immediate precursor …
Rhodium(III) Chloride
RhCl₃Rhodium(III) chloride is the most common rhodium compound, used as a catalyst precursor. Rhodium is essential in automotive catalytic converters.
Riboflavin
C₁₇H₂₀N₄O₆Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is an essential water-soluble vitamin that functions as a component of the coenzymes FAD and FMN. These …
Saccharin
C₇H₅NO₃SSaccharin was the first artificial sweetener, discovered in 1879. It is about 300-400 times sweeter than sugar with a slightly …
Salicylic Acid
C₇H₆O₃Salicylic acid is derived from willow bark and is the precursor to aspirin. It is widely used in skincare products …
Samarium Cobalt
SmCo₅Samarium cobalt magnets were the first rare earth permanent magnets developed. They retain their magnetism at higher temperatures than neodymium …
Serine
C₃H₇NO₃Serine is a non-essential amino acid important for phospholipid synthesis and protein phosphorylation. Its name derives from the Latin word …
Serotonin
C₁₀H₁₂N₂OSerotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract (about 90%), blood platelets, and central nervous system. It …
Silane
SiH₄Silane is the silicon analog of methane. It is pyrophoric (spontaneously ignites in air) and essential in semiconductor manufacturing.
Silicon Carbide
SiCSilicon carbide is an extremely hard ceramic used as an abrasive (carborundum) and increasingly as a wide-bandgap semiconductor for EV …
Silicon Dioxide
SiO₂Silicon dioxide (silica) is the most abundant mineral in Earth's crust. Quartz, sand, and glass are all forms of SiO₂.
Silicone (Polydimethylsiloxane)
(C₂H₆OSi)ₙPDMS is the most widely used silicone, with applications from medical implants to cooking molds, lubricants, and waterproofing agents.
Silicon Tetrachloride
SiCl₄Silicon tetrachloride is a key intermediate in producing high-purity silicon for semiconductors and optical fibers.
Silver Chloride
AgClSilver chloride is a white solid that darkens on exposure to light, a property exploited in photography for over 150 …
Silver Nitrate
AgNO₃Silver nitrate is a versatile compound used in photography, medicine, and analytical chemistry. It stains skin and organic materials black.
Sodium Acetate
CH₃COONaSodium acetate is the sodium salt of acetic acid, used in food preservation, heating pads, and as a buffer. Supersaturated …
Sodium Alginate
(C₆H₇NaO₆)ₙSodium alginate is a natural polysaccharide from brown seaweed used as a thickener, gelling agent, and in molecular gastronomy for …
Sodium Aluminate
NaAlO₂Sodium aluminate is an important intermediate in the Bayer process for producing alumina from bauxite ore. It is formed when …
Sodium Azide
NaN₃Sodium azide is a white crystalline salt that decomposes rapidly when heated, producing nitrogen gas. This property makes it the …
Sodium Benzoate
C₇H₅NaO₂Sodium benzoate (E211) is the most widely used food preservative globally, found in soft drinks, condiments, and cosmetics. It inhibits …
Sodium Bicarbonate
NaHCO₃Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is a mild base used in cooking, cleaning, and medicine. It decomposes above 50°C releasing CO₂.
Sodium Borohydride
NaBH₄Sodium borohydride is a milder and safer reducing agent than LiAlH4. It selectively reduces aldehydes and ketones while leaving esters …
Sodium Borohydride in NaOH
NaBH₄/NaOHSodium borohydride stabilized in NaOH solution is the practical form used in industrial reductions. The base prevents decomposition by water.
Sodium Borosilicate Glass
Na₂O·B₂O₃·SiO₂Borosilicate glass (Pyrex) has excellent thermal shock resistance and chemical durability. It is used in laboratory glassware, cookware, and telescope …
Sodium Bromide
NaBrSodium bromide is a white crystalline salt used in drilling fluids, photography, and as a pharmaceutical sedative. It was the …
Sodium Carbonate
Na₂CO₃Sodium carbonate (washing soda/soda ash) is a water-soluble salt used in glass making and as a water softener.
Sodium Chloride
NaClSodium chloride (table salt) is the most common salt, essential for human life. It forms cubic crystals and is abundant …
Sodium Chromate
Na₂CrO₄Sodium chromate is a bright yellow salt and powerful oxidizer used in corrosion inhibition, leather tanning, and as a chromium …
Sodium Cyanide
NaCNSodium cyanide is the primary reagent for gold extraction in mining, consuming about 90% of global cyanide production.
Sodium Dichromate
Na₂Cr₂O₇Sodium dichromate is an important industrial chemical used primarily in the production of chromium compounds and in metal finishing. It …
Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
C₁₈H₂₉NaO₃SSodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) is the most widely used anionic surfactant in household detergents. It replaced soap for most cleaning applications.
Sodium Erythorbate
C₆H₇NaO₆Sodium erythorbate (E316) is the sodium salt of erythorbic acid, used as an antioxidant in processed meats to accelerate curing …
Sodium Fluoride
NaFSodium fluoride is the fluoride compound most commonly added to water supplies and toothpaste for dental cavity prevention.
Sodium Hexafluorophosphate
NaPF₆NaPF₆ is being researched as an electrolyte salt for sodium-ion batteries, a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion batteries using abundant sodium.
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
(NaPO₃)₆SHMP is a polyphosphate used as a water softener, sequestrant, and food additive. It prevents calcium scale formation in pipes …
Sodium Hydride
NaHSodium hydride is a powerful base and reducing agent used extensively in organic synthesis. It reacts vigorously with water, releasing …
Sodium Hydroxide
NaOHSodium hydroxide (lye/caustic soda) is a strong base widely used in industry. It is highly caustic and can dissolve organic …
Sodium Hydroxide Solution
NaOH(aq)Aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at 50% concentration is the most commonly traded form of this important industrial base. Known as …
Sodium Hypochlorite
NaClOSodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in household bleach (typically 3-8% solution). It is the most widely used disinfectant in …
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
C₁₂H₂₅NaO₄SSodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is one of the most widely used anionic surfactants. It creates the foamy lather in toothpaste, …
Sodium Metabisulfite
Na₂S₂O₅Sodium metabisulfite is a powerful reducing agent and preservative used in wine making, food preservation, and water treatment.
Sodium Nitrate
NaNO₃Sodium nitrate (Chile saltpeter) is a naturally occurring mineral used in fertilizers, food preservation, and historically in explosives.
Sodium Nitrite
NaNO₂Sodium nitrite is the primary curing agent for meat, giving hot dogs and bacon their pink color and preventing botulism. …
Sodium Perborate
NaBO₃Sodium perborate is a stable source of active oxygen used as a bleaching agent in laundry detergents and teeth whitening …
Sodium Percarbonate
2Na₂CO₃·3H₂O₂Sodium percarbonate is an eco-friendly bleaching agent that releases hydrogen peroxide when dissolved. It is the active ingredient in OxiClean.
Sodium Periodate
NaIO₄Sodium periodate is a selective oxidizing agent that cleaves carbon-carbon bonds between vicinal diols. It is indispensable in carbohydrate chemistry.
Sodium Permanganate
NaMnO₄Sodium permanganate is a powerful oxidizer with much higher water solubility than potassium permanganate, making it useful for water treatment.
Sodium Peroxide
Na₂O₂Sodium peroxide is a powerful oxidizer that reacts vigorously with water to produce NaOH and oxygen. It was used in …
Sodium Phosphate Tribasic
Na₃PO₄Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is a powerful cleaning agent and degreaser. It was once common in household detergents before environmental regulations …
Sodium Polyacrylate
(C₃H₃NaO₂)ₙSodium polyacrylate is a superabsorbent polymer that can absorb 300-800 times its weight in water. It is the key material …
Sodium Silicate
Na₂SiO₃Sodium silicate (water glass) is an inorganic compound used as an adhesive, sealant, and fire retardant. Its solution is alkaline …
Sodium Stannate
Na₂SnO₃Sodium stannate is the sodium salt of stannic acid, used as an alkaline tin plating electrolyte and as a flame …
Sodium Stearate
C₁₈H₃₅NaO₂Sodium stearate is the most common soap, formed by the saponification of fats with sodium hydroxide. It has a hydrophilic …
Sodium Sulfate
Na₂SO₄Sodium sulfate (Glauber's salt in hydrated form) is used in detergent manufacturing and the kraft process for paper pulping.
Sodium Sulfite
Na₂SO₃Sodium sulfite is a white solid used as a food preservative and antioxidant. It is the most common sulfiting agent …
Sodium Tetraborate
Na₂B₄O₇Borax is a natural boron mineral used in cleaning products, glass making, and as a flux. It has been mined …
Sodium Thiosulfate
Na₂S₂O₃Sodium thiosulfate (hypo) was essential in analog photography as a photographic fixer. It also neutralizes chlorine in water.
Sodium Tripolyphosphate
Na₅P₃O₁₀STPP is the most commonly used detergent builder, softening water by sequestering calcium and magnesium ions. It is restricted in …
Sodium Tungstate
Na₂WO₄Sodium tungstate is used as a fireproofing agent for fabrics and as a reagent in analytical chemistry. It also serves …
Sorbitol
C₆H₁₄O₆Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in many fruits. It is used as a low-calorie sweetener, humectant, and pharmaceutical …
Starch
(C₆H₁₀O₅)ₙStarch is a polysaccharide that plants use to store energy. It consists of two polymers: amylose (linear) and amylopectin (branched). …
Stearic Acid
C₁₈H₃₆O₂Stearic acid is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in animal and vegetable fats. It is widely …
Stevioside
C₃₈H₆₀O₁₈Stevioside is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, about 250-300 times sweeter than sugar. It has …
Strontium Carbonate
SrCO₃Strontium carbonate is used in the production of specialty glass for cathode ray tubes and in ceramic ferrite magnets. It …
Strontium Oxide
SrOStrontium oxide is a strong base that reacts with water to form strontium hydroxide. It is used in CRT glass …
Styrene
C₈H₈Styrene is an important industrial monomer used to produce polystyrene, synthetic rubber, and ABS plastic. It is derived from ethylbenzene …
Succinic Acid
C₄H₆O₄Succinic acid is a dicarboxylic acid that plays a key role in the citric acid cycle. It is increasingly produced …
Sucralose
C₁₂H₁₉Cl₃O₈Sucralose is an artificial sweetener made by chlorinating sucrose, about 600 times sweeter than sugar. It passes through the body …
Sucrose
C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁Sucrose (table sugar) is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose. It is extracted from sugar cane and sugar beets.
Sulfur Dioxide
SO₂Sulfur dioxide is a toxic gas with a pungent smell, produced by volcanic eruptions and industrial processes. It is a …
Sulfur Hexafluoride
SF₆SF₆ is an extremely stable, non-toxic, non-flammable gas with the highest known dielectric strength. It is used as an electrical …
Sulfuric Acid
H₂SO₄Sulfuric acid is the world's most produced industrial chemical. It is a strong diprotic acid used in fertilizer production, oil …
Sulfur Trioxide
SO₃Sulfur trioxide is a key intermediate in sulfuric acid production via the contact process. It reacts vigorously with water.
Superphosphate
Ca(H₂PO₄)₂Single superphosphate was the first commercial fertilizer, produced since the 1840s. It provides both phosphorus and calcium to crops.
Talc
Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂Talc is the softest known mineral (Mohs hardness 1) and the primary ingredient in talcum powder. It is used in …
Tantalum Pentoxide
Ta₂O₅Tantalum pentoxide is a high-dielectric material used in electronic capacitors and as an anti-reflective coating for camera lenses. It is …
Tartaric Acid
C₄H₆O₆Tartaric acid occurs naturally in grapes and is a key component of wine. It is used in food as an …
Terephthalic Acid
C₈H₆O₄Terephthalic acid (TPA) is the most widely produced aromatic dicarboxylic acid, with over 80 million tonnes produced annually for PET …
tert-Butanol
C₄H₁₀Otert-Butanol is unique among butanol isomers as it is a solid near room temperature. It is used as a solvent …
Tetrachloromethane
CCl₄Carbon tetrachloride is a dense, colorless liquid that was once widely used as a dry cleaning solvent and fire extinguisher …
Tetrahydrofuran
C₄H₈OTetrahydrofuran (THF) is a cyclic ether widely used as a laboratory and industrial solvent. It is the preferred solvent for …
Tetramethylsilane
Si(CH₃)₄TMS is the universal internal reference standard for NMR spectroscopy, defining the zero point on the chemical shift scale.
Theobromine
C₇H₈N₄O₂Theobromine is the primary alkaloid in cocoa and chocolate. It is the reason chocolate is toxic to dogs, who metabolize …
Theophylline
C₇H₈N₄O₂Theophylline is a methylxanthine found in tea and used to treat asthma by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle. It is chemically …
Thiamine
C₁₂H₁₇N₄OS⁺Thiamine, or Vitamin B1, is essential for glucose metabolism. Its deficiency causes beriberi, a disease that plagued Asian populations dependent …
Thiophene
C₄H₄SThiophene is a sulfur-containing aromatic heterocycle first detected in benzene as a contaminant. It is used in pharmaceuticals and organic …
Threonine
C₄H₉NO₃Threonine is an essential amino acid important for immune function, gut health, and collagen production. It was the last of …
Thymine
C₅H₆N₂O₂Thymine is a pyrimidine nucleobase found exclusively in DNA, where it pairs with adenine through two hydrogen bonds. It is …
Thymol
C₁₀H₁₄OThymol is a natural monoterpene phenol found in thyme oil. It has been used as an antiseptic since ancient Egyptian …
Tin(II) Chloride
SnCl₂Tin(II) chloride, or stannous chloride, is a strong reducing agent used in tin plating, as a mordant in dyeing, and …
Tin(II) Oxide
SnOTin(II) oxide is a blue-black solid used in tin plating and as a reducing agent. It is an amphoteric oxide …
Tin(IV) Chloride
SnCl₄Tin(IV) chloride, or stannic chloride, is a fuming liquid used as a mordant in dyeing and as a catalyst in …
Tin(IV) Oxide
SnO₂Tin(IV) oxide is the most important tin ore (cassiterite) and has been mined since the Bronze Age. It is a …
Titanium Dioxide
TiO₂Titanium dioxide is the most widely used white pigment due to its brightness and high refractive index. It is used …
Titanium Isopropoxide
Ti(OC₃H₇)₄Titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) is the most common titanium alkoxide, used as a precursor for TiO₂ thin films via sol-gel process …
Titanium Nitride
TiNTitanium nitride is an extremely hard gold-colored ceramic coating used on cutting tools, medical implants, and decorative applications.
Titanium Tetrachloride
TiCl₄Titanium tetrachloride is a dense colorless liquid that produces thick white smoke when exposed to moist air. It is the …
Toluene
C₇H₈Toluene is a common aromatic solvent used in paints, thinners, and adhesives. It is also a major feedstock for producing …
Toluene Diisocyanate
C₉H₆N₂O₂TDI is one of the most important isocyanates used to make flexible polyurethane foam for mattresses, car seats, and upholstery.
Tributyltin Oxide
C₂₄H₅₄OSn₂TBTO was the most effective antifouling paint additive for ship hulls until it was banned by the IMO in 2008 …
Trichloroethylene
C₂HCl₃Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a powerful degreasing solvent that has become one of the most common groundwater contaminants in the developed …
Triethylamine
C₆H₁₅NTriethylamine (TEA) is one of the most commonly used non-nucleophilic bases in organic synthesis. It has a strong, fishy ammonia-like …
Trinitrotoluene
C₇H₅N₃O₆TNT is a yellow solid explosive that is one of the most commonly used military and commercial explosives. Despite being …
Tryptophan
C₁₁H₁₂N₂O₂Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that the body cannot synthesize. It is the biosynthetic precursor to serotonin (the 'happy …
Tungsten Carbide
WCTungsten carbide is one of the hardest known materials, nearly as hard as diamond. It is the primary material for …
Tungsten Trioxide
WO₃Tungsten trioxide is a yellow powder that is the primary intermediate in tungsten metal production. It is reduced with hydrogen …
Tyrosine
C₉H₁₁NO₃Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid and precursor to dopamine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and melanin. Its name comes from the Greek …
Uracil
C₄H₄N₂O₂Uracil is a pyrimidine nucleobase found in RNA but not DNA. It pairs with adenine through two hydrogen bonds. In …
Uranium Dioxide
UO₂Uranium dioxide is the standard nuclear fuel used in most commercial nuclear reactors. It has a remarkably high melting point …
Urea
CO(NH₂)₂Urea is the main nitrogen-containing waste product of protein metabolism in mammals. It was the first organic compound synthesized from …
Urea Ammonium Nitrate
CO(NH₂)₂·NH₄NO₃UAN solution is the most widely used liquid nitrogen fertilizer, typically at 28-32% N concentration. It combines the benefits of …
Uric Acid
C₅H₄N₄O₃Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism in humans. High blood levels cause gout — painful crystal deposits …
Valine
C₅H₁₁NO₂Valine is a branched-chain essential amino acid named after the plant valerian. It is important for muscle metabolism and tissue …
Vanadium(IV) Oxide Sulfate
VOSO₄Vanadyl sulfate is a blue vanadium compound used in redox flow batteries and studied as a potential anti-diabetic agent mimicking …
Vanadium Pentoxide
V₂O₅Vanadium pentoxide is a yellow to red crystalline solid that is the most important commercial vanadium compound. It is the …
Vanadium(V) Oxide
V₂O₅Vanadium pentoxide is the most important industrial vanadium compound, primarily used as a catalyst for sulfuric acid production by the …
Vanillin
C₈H₈O₃Vanillin is the primary flavor compound in vanilla and the world's most popular flavoring agent. Over 85% of commercial vanillin …
Vinyl Acetate
C₄H₆O₂Vinyl acetate is the monomer for polyvinyl acetate (PVA), the main component of white glue and latex paint. Over 6 …
Vinyl Chloride
C₂H₃ClVinyl chloride is the monomer used to produce PVC, one of the world's most used plastics. It is a colorless …
Water
H₂OWater is the most abundant compound on Earth's surface and essential for all known forms of life. It is a …
Xenon Difluoride
XeF₂Xenon difluoride was one of the first noble gas compounds discovered, shattering the belief that noble gases could not form …
Xylene
C₈H₁₀Xylene is a mixture of three isomers (ortho-, meta-, and para-xylene) that is one of the top 30 chemicals produced …
Xylitol
C₅H₁₂O₅Xylitol is a sugar alcohol with a sweetness similar to sucrose but 40% fewer calories. It is widely used in …
Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide
YBa₂Cu₃O₇YBCO was the first material discovered to superconduct above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77 K). Its discovery in …
Yttrium Oxide
Y₂O₃Yttrium oxide is a white powder used in YAG lasers, phosphors for TVs, and as a stabilizer for zirconia ceramics.
Zeolite A
Na₁₂Al₁₂Si₁₂O₄₈Zeolite A is a synthetic aluminosilicate with precisely sized pores (4 angstrom) that act as a molecular sieve. It replaced …
Zinc Chloride
ZnCl₂Zinc chloride is one of the most soluble salts known. It is a powerful Lewis acid used in organic synthesis …
Zinc Oxide
ZnOZinc oxide is a white powder used in sunscreens, rubber, ceramics, and electronics. It is one of the most versatile …
Zinc Sulfate
ZnSO₄Zinc sulfate is used as a dietary supplement, in agriculture as a fertilizer, and in the production of rayon fiber.
Zinc Sulfide
ZnSZinc sulfide is a luminescent material that forms the basis of many phosphorescent and fluorescent products. It occurs naturally as …
Zirconium Dioxide
ZrO₂Zirconium dioxide is a white crystalline oxide with the highest melting point of any metal oxide. In its cubic form …