different between chemical vs metastable

English

Etymology

chemic (“alchemy”) +? -al (“related to”)

Pronunciation

• enPR: k?m'?k-?l, IPA^(key): /?k?m?k?l/
• Rhymes: -?m?k?l

Adjective

chemical (not comparable)

1. Of or relating to chemistry.

2. Of or relating to a material or processes not commonly found in nature or in a particular product.
3. (obsolete) Of or relating to alchemy.

Derived terms

• technochemical

Translations

Further reading

• Chemistry on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Noun

chemical (plural chemicals)

1. (chemistry, sciences) Any specific chemical element or chemical compound or alloy.

2. (colloquial) An artificial chemical compound.

3. (slang) An addictive drug.

Usage notes

• The noun is frequently used in a slang and more specific non-technical way (2nd and 3rd definition) by the general public. Chemists and those who understand chemistry may gravitate toward the first, but the term "substance" is preferred usage.

Derived terms

Translations

Related terms

• alchemical
• chemist
• chemistry

See also

• molecule
• reagent

Anagrams

• Michalec, alchemic

English

Etymology

meta- +? stable

Adjective

metastable (not comparable)

1. (physics, chemistry) Of or pertaining to a physical or chemical state that is relatively long-lived, but may decay to a lower energy state when slightly perturbed or through a quantum transition.

Translations

Noun

metastable (plural metastables)

1. A particle, etc. in the metastable state.

Anagrams

• metatables, stablemate, steam table, steamtable, tablemates