Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
substance, inorganic
Homogeneous matter
that does not contain the
element
carbon,
with the exception of the oxides of carbon (carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide)
and compounds containing
carbonate ions
.
substance, organic
Homogeneous organic matter
that has a specific composition.
suede
Oil-tanned leather
finished with a velvetlike
nap
on the flesh side.
sueding
The process of raising
fibers
on the surface of
oil-tanned leather
to give a
velvet nap effect.
suet
Hard animal
fat
surrounding the kidneys.
sugar
See
carbohydrate
.
sulfate
A complex
anion
composed of
atoms
of sulfur and oxygen and assigned the
formula
SO
2−
; it is a component of many
minerals
and
sedimentary rocks
.
sulfide
A
chemical compound
that contains negatively charged sulfide (S
2−
)
ions
.
sulfur
A
nonmetallic element
.
sumac
The
tannin
-rich extract from small trees or shrubs of the genus
Rhus
, such
as
Rhus coriaria
of southern Europe, which is used for
tanning
animal skins and as
a
mordant
for
dyeing
.
summer wood
See
wood
,
late
.
supercooled liquid
See
liquid
,
supercooled
.
surface soil
See
topsoil
.
surface treatment
Alteration of the surface of
pottery
by
burnishing
or by coating it
with a of
slip
or
glaze
.
surfactant
A
substance
that, when added to a liquid, reduces the surface tension of
the liquid.
suspension
A mixture of very fine, nonsettling particles of a
solid
within a
liquid
or
gas
.
sweating
An ancient process for the removal of
hair
or
wool
from animal
skins
by a
process of controlled
putrefaction
.
symbol, chemical
See
chemical symbol
.
synthesis
The combination of constituent chemical units into a single
compound
.
system
A group of interrelated and interacting
matter
and phenomena.
system, closed
See
closed system
.
system, open
See
open system
.
T
Abbreviation for
thymine
.
tailings
See
gangue
.
tallow
Hard
fat
derived from animal carcasses, widely used in the past for making
soap
and candle wax.
tannin
Generic name for bitter-tasting, astringent
organic substances
of vegetable
origin that have been used since early antiquity for
tanning
animal skins.
tanning
The production of
leather
from animal
skins
; see
mineral tanning
,
oil tanning
,
and
vegetable tanning
.
