Chemical industry

The industrial sector that transforms raw materials into chemicals and chemical products through synthesis, refining, and formulation.

Chemical process: A sequence of physical and chemical operations that transforms materials into products. Chemical plants combine reaction and separation steps to convert feedstocks into saleable products.
Hydrocarbon: A compound made only of carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbons supply much of the carbon and energy used in chemical manufacturing.
Fertilizer: A natural or manufactured material added to soil or plants to supply nutrients. Industrial ammonia and phosphate processing underpin the supply of manufactured fertilizers.
Green chemistry: The design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances and waste. It offers principles for reducing the sector’s environmental and health burdens at the design stage.
Fine chemical: A pure, complex chemical made in limited quantities for specialized applications. Fine chemicals contrast with bulk products through smaller volumes and more demanding specifications.
Petrochemical: A chemical made from petroleum or natural gas, often used as feedstock for other products. Petrochemicals form a major branch of production built on hydrocarbon feedstocks.
Natural gas: A naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons, composed mainly of methane. It serves both as fuel and as feedstock for products such as ammonia and methanol.
Polymer: A substance composed of molecules formed from many repeating molecular units. Chemical production supplies the monomers and polymers used in plastics, fibers, and coatings.
Industrial ecology: The study of material and energy flows through industrial systems and their relation to the environment. It examines how chemical plants exchange resources and wastes with other industries.
Commodity chemical: A high-volume chemical sold largely on the basis of price and standardized specifications. Commodity production represents the scale-driven end of the industry’s product range.

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