Definition
noun, plural: chemicals
(1) A substance made up of chemical elements or produced from a chemical process
(2) A drug, especially illicit or addictive drug
adjective
Of, relating to, or pertaining to, chemistry or a chemical substance
Supplement
Word origin: New Latin chimicus
See also:
Related term(s):
The body is comprised of different elements with hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen as the major four. This tutorial will help you understand the chemical composition of the body. This will come in handy when considering the various interactions between cells and structures. ..
Proteins have a crucial role in various biological activities. Get to know how proteins are able to perform as enzymes, cofactors, or regulators. In this tutorial, you will also know the common metabolic pathways of biomolecules, such as glucose and other carbohydrates, fats, proteins and amino acids, and essential nutrients...
Homeostasis is the relatively stable conditions of the internal environment that result from compensatory regulatory responses performed by homeostatic control systems. Know the different components of homeostatic control systems, homeostatic regulators, and the various biological processes that homeostasis entail...
Neurons generate electric signals that they pass along to the other neurons or target tissues. In this tutorial, you will find the basic structure of a neuron, the different classes of neurons, and membrane potentials. It also includes the structure of the nervous system...
Plants, like animals, produce hormones to regulate plant activities, including growth. They need these hormones to respond well to their environment and to sustain growth, development, and dispersal. Plant biologists recognize five major groups of plant hormones: auxins, gibberellins, ethylene, cytokinins, and abscisic acid. Find out in this guide the importance of each hormone in the life of a plant...
Plants and animals need elements, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium for proper growth and development. Certain chemicals though can halt growth, e.g. herbicides in plants, or affect normal physiological activities, e.g. alcohol. For more info, read this tutorial on the effects of chemicals on plants and animals...
