What is a Chemical?
The American Heritage Science Dictionary defines a chemical as “a substance having a specific molecular composition, obtained by or used in a chemical process.” As such, a chemical can be an element, in that it has a specific molecular composition and may be produced by a natural chemical process. A chemical compound will have more than one element. An element is a chemical substance made of specific kinds of atoms that cannot be broken down any further. In short, they are the purest forms of chemicals known to man. Chemical compounds exist to combine different elements, which produce different reactions. The study of chemical substances is called chemistry. Often, the most basic forms of chemistry classes begin in high school and then continue on throughout higher learning institutions. Those who need a background in chemistry include doctors, pharmaceutical researchers, and even food and synthetic food developers. In order to produce chemical compounds, it is first necessary to come
