chemical
noun [ C ]
uk/ˈkemɪkəl/ usany basic substance which is used in or produced by a reaction involving changes to atoms or molecules:
The government has pledged to reduce the amount of chemicals used in food production.
Each year, factories release millions of tonnes of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.
chemical
adjective
uk/ˈkemɪkəl/ usrelating to chemicals:
The chemical industry produces such things as petrochemicals, drugs, paint, and rubber.
chemically
adverb
The fund provides money to clean up chemically polluted industrial sites.