N-type Semiconductor
An n-type semiconductor is a semiconductor that has been doped with donor impurities that contribute extra electrons (negative charge carriers) to the conduction band. In silicon, …
Chemical Glossary — Letter N
57 chemicals found starting with "N"
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter at the nanometer scale (1–100 nm) to create materials and devices with novel properties arising from their extremely small size. At thi…
Native State
The naturally occurring form of a metal element found in nature, uncombined with other elements. Metals found in the native state are typically noble or unreactive, such as gold, s…
Natural Abundance
The percentage of a particular isotope found naturally on Earth relative to the total amount of that element. For example, carbon-12 has a natural abundance of about 98.9% and carb…
Natural Radioactivity
Natural radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of radiation (alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays) from unstable atomic nuclei of naturally occurring isotopes without …
Negative Catalyst
A negative catalyst (also called an inhibitor or retarder) is a substance that decreases the rate of a chemical reaction when added to the reaction mixture. Unlike positive catalys…
Neodymium
Neodymium is a bright, silvery rare earth metal, atomic number 60. Best known for neodymium magnets (Nd2Fe14B) - the strongest type of permanent magnet. Also used in high-powered l…
Neon
Neon is a colourless, odourless noble gas, atomic number 10. Chemically inert. Glows characteristic reddish-orange when excited by electricity. Second lightest noble gas. Obtained …
Neptunium
Neptunium is the first transuranic element, created artificially in 1940 by bombarding uranium with neutrons. It is found in trace quantities in uranium ores as a decay product. It…
Nernst Equation
The Nernst equation relates the electrode potential of a half-cell to the standard electrode potential and the activities (concentrations) of the reacting species at non-standard c…
Nernst Equation
An equation relating the electrode potential to the standard potential and the concentrations of reactants and products: E = E° - (RT/nF)ln(Q). At 25°C, this simplifies to E = E° -…
Net Ionic Equation
A net ionic equation shows only the species that actually participate in an ionic reaction, omitting the spectator ions (ions present in solution that do not change). For example, …
Net Ionic Equation
A chemical equation that shows only the species directly involved in a reaction, excluding spectator ions. Derived by canceling out ions that appear on both sides of the complete i…
Neutralisation
The reaction between an acid and a base to produce a salt and water. For strong acid-strong base neutralization: H⁺(aq) + OH⁻(aq) → H₂O(l). The heat released is the enthalpy of neu…
Neutralization
Neutralization is the reaction between an acid and a base to form a salt and (in aqueous solution) water, resulting in a solution with a pH closer to 7 than either of the original …
Neutron
A neutron is a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of all atoms except the most common isotope of hydrogen. It has no electric charge and a mass of approximately 1.675×10⁻²⁷ kg…
Neutron
A subatomic particle found in the nucleus with no electric charge and a mass of approximately 1.675 × 10⁻²⁷ kg (slightly greater than a proton). Neutrons contribute to atomic mass …
Newman Projection
A way of representing the conformation of a molecule by looking down the axis of a carbon-carbon bond. The front carbon is shown as a point (dot), and the back carbon as a circle. …
Nickel
Nickel is a hard, lustrous, silvery-white transition metal, atomic number 28. Corrosion resistant and highly valued in alloys. Responsible for most cases of contact dermatitis (nic…
Nickel Cadmium Cell Nicad Battery
The nickel-cadmium (NiCad) battery is a rechargeable secondary cell with a cadmium anode, nickel(III) oxyhydroxide cathode, and a potassium hydroxide electrolyte. It produces appro…
Nihonium
Nihonium is a synthetic radioactive element named after Nihon (Japan), where it was first synthesised in 2004 at RIKEN. It is the first element discovered in Asia.
Niobium
Niobium is a soft, grey, ductile transition metal, atomic number 41. Also called columbium in North America. Most important use is in steel alloys for pipelines and structural stee…
Nitration
An electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction in which a nitro group (-NO₂) is introduced into an aromatic ring using a nitrating mixture (concentrated HNO₃ and H₂SO₄). The sulfu…
Nitric Acid
Nitric acid (HNO₃) is a strong, highly corrosive mineral acid and powerful oxidizing agent that is miscible with water. It is manufactured industrially by the Ostwald process — cat…
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a colourless, odourless diatomic gas, atomic number 7, comprising 78% of Earth atmosphere. The N triple bond is one of the strongest in chemistry. Essential for all liv…
Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms as it circulates through atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic ecos…
Nitrogen Fixation
The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into compounds usable by organisms, such as ammonia or nitrates. Biological fixation occurs through bacteria like Rhizobium. Industrial …
Nitrogenases
Nitrogenases are metalloenzymes found in nitrogen-fixing microorganisms that catalyze the reduction of atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) to ammonia (NH₃) under ambient conditions, a proces…
Nobelium
Nobelium is a synthetic radioactive actinide named after Alfred Nobel. It was first correctly synthesised in 1966 at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, and …
Noble Gas
Elements in Group 18 of the periodic table: helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn). Noble gases have completely filled valence shells (except …
Noble Gases Rare Gases
Noble gases (Group 18/VIII A) are the elements helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn), characterized by complete valence electron shells that …
Noble Metals
Metals that are resistant to corrosion and oxidation in moist air, including gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium, and ruthenium. Their resistance to chemica…
Nodal Plane
A nodal plane is a planar region in an atomic or molecular orbital where the probability of finding an electron is zero because the wavefunction passes through zero. For example, p…
Non-Bonding Orbital
A non-bonding orbital (or non-bonding molecular orbital, NBMO) is a molecular orbital whose energy is the same as that of the constituent atomic orbitals — it is neither stabilized…
Non-Electrolyte
A substance that does not conduct electricity when dissolved in water because it does not dissociate into ions. Non-electrolytes dissolve as intact molecules. Examples include gluc…
Non-Polar
Describes molecules or bonds with no net dipole moment. In nonpolar molecules, electrons are shared equally between atoms or the dipoles cancel out due to molecular symmetry. Nonpo…
Non-stoichiometric Compound
A non-stoichiometric compound (or Berthollide compound) is a compound in which the ratio of elements is not a simple whole number. These compounds violate Dalton's Law of Definite …
Nonbonding Orbital
A nonbonding orbital (or nonbonding molecular orbital) is a molecular orbital that has the same energy as the atomic orbital(s) from which it is derived and does not significantly …
Nonelectrolyte
A nonelectrolyte is a substance that does not produce ions when dissolved in water, forming a solution that does not conduct electricity. Examples include sucrose, ethanol, and ure…
Nonpolar Bond
A nonpolar covalent bond is a bond in which the bonding electrons are shared equally between two atoms of the same or very similar electronegativity, resulting in no net dipole mom…
Normality
A concentration unit defined as the number of equivalents of solute per liter of solution (N = eq/L). For acids, one equivalent contains one mole of H⁺; for bases, one equivalent c…
Nuclear Binding Energy
Nuclear binding energy is the energy required to completely separate a nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons, or equivalently, the energy released when the nucleus is a…
Nuclear Equation
An equation representing a nuclear reaction, showing the changes in atomic number and mass number. Like chemical equations, nuclear equations must be balanced for both mass number …
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy atomic nucleus (such as ²³⁵U or ²³⁹Pu) into two or more lighter nuclei, accompanied by the release of a large amount of energy and sever…
Nuclear Fission
The splitting of a heavy nucleus into two lighter nuclei with release of energy and neutrons. Fission of U-235 or Pu-239 is triggered by neutron absorption. The process releases en…
Nuclear Fusion
The combining of two light nuclei into a heavier nucleus with release of tremendous energy. Fusion is the process that powers the sun. On Earth, fusion requires extremely high temp…
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
A spectroscopic technique (NMR) based on the absorption of radiofrequency radiation by atomic nuclei in a magnetic field. ¹H NMR is used to determine hydrogen environments in organ…
Nuclear Reaction
A nuclear reaction is a process in which the nucleus of an atom is transformed by interaction with another nucleus, a subatomic particle, or high-energy radiation, resulting in a c…
Nuclear Reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device in which a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction is maintained to produce heat, which is then converted to electrical energy or u…
Nucleon
A collective term for the protons and neutrons that make up the atomic nucleus. The total number of nucleons equals the mass number of an atom. Strong nuclear forces bind nucleons …
Nucleons
Nucleons are the subatomic particles that make up the atomic nucleus: protons (positively charged) and neutrons (electrically neutral). The total number of nucleons in a nucleus is…
Nucleophile
An electron-rich species that donates electrons to an electrophile in a chemical reaction. Nucleophiles attack electron-poor carbon atoms in substitution and addition reactions. Ex…
Nucleosynthesis
The process by which heavier atomic nuclei are created from lighter nuclei by nuclear fusion. Stellar nucleosynthesis produces elements up to iron in stars; heavier elements form i…
Nucleus
The atomic nucleus is the small, dense core at the centre of an atom, containing protons and neutrons (collectively nucleons). The nucleus was discovered by Ernest Rutherford in 19…
Nucleus
The positively charged central core of an atom, containing protons and neutrons (except hydrogen-1, which has no neutrons). The nucleus has a diameter of about 10⁻¹⁵ m and accounts…
Nuclide Symbol
A nuclide symbol is a notation used to identify a specific nuclide (a particular nuclear species defined by its proton number Z and neutron number N), written as ᴬ_Z X where X is t…
Nuclides
Atomic species characterized by specific numbers of protons (Z) and neutrons (N) in their nuclei. Each nuclide has a unique combination of atomic number and mass number. Stable nuc…
About Chemicals Starting With N
This page lists all chemicals in our database beginning with the letter N. Each entry provides the chemical formula, CAS registry number, physical and chemical properties, common uses, and safety information. Use the alphabetical navigation above to browse other letters, or use the search function to find a specific chemical quickly.
Our chemical glossary covers acids, bases, salts, organic compounds, inorganic compounds, solvents, and many more categories. Click on any chemical name to view its full detailed profile.