
Chemical compound | Definition, Examples, & Types | Britannica
Dec 16, 2025 · Chemical compound, any substance composed of identical molecules consisting of atoms of two or more chemical elements. All the matter in the universe is composed of the atoms of …
Chemical compound - Elements, Molecules, Reactions | Britannica
Dec 16, 2025 · Chemical compounds may be classified according to several different criteria. One common method is based on the specific elements present. For example, oxides contain one or …
Organic compound | Definition & Examples | Britannica
An organic compound is any chemical compound in which one or more atoms of carbon are covalently linked to atoms of other elements, most commonly hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen. The few carbon …
Ionic compound | Description, Examples, & Uses | Britannica
Ionic compound, any of a large group of chemical compounds consisting of oppositely charged ions, wherein electron transfer, or ionic bonding, holds the atoms together.
Inorganic compound | Definition & Examples | Britannica
For example, lead (Pb) can exist as Pb 2+ or Pb 4+ ions in ionic compounds. Also, iron (Fe) can form Fe 2+ or Fe 3+ ions, tin (Sn) can form Sn 2+ or Sn 4+ ions, gold (Au) can form Au + or Au 3+ ions, and …
Molecule | Definition, Examples, Structures, & Facts | Britannica
Jan 5, 2026 · Molecule, a group of two or more atoms that form the smallest identifiable unit into which a pure substance can be divided and still retain the composition and chemical properties of that …
Heterocyclic compound | Definition, Examples, Structure, Nomenclature ...
Heterocyclic compounds include many of the biochemical material essential to life. For example, nucleic acids, the chemical substances that carry the genetic information controlling inheritance, consist of …
Base | Definition, Examples, & Facts | Britannica
Dec 12, 2025 · Bases are chemical compounds that, in solution, are soapy to the touch and turn red vegetable dyes blue. When mixed, acids and bases neutralize one another and produce salts.
Coordination compound | Definition, Examples, & Facts | Britannica
Coordination compound, any of a class of substances with chemical structures in which a central metal atom is surrounded by nonmetal atoms or groups of atoms, called ligands, joined to it by chemical …
Organometallic compound | Definition, Examples, Preparation ...
The physical and chemical properties of organometallic compounds vary greatly. Most are solids, particularly those whose hydrocarbon groups are ring-shaped or aromatic, but some are liquids and …