chalcogenide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “chalcogenide” mean?
A chemical compound consisting of at least one chalcogen (an element from group 16, such as oxygen, sulfur, selenium, or tellurium) and at least one more electropositive element.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chemical compound consisting of at least one chalcogen (an element from group 16, such as oxygen, sulfur, selenium, or tellurium) and at least one more electropositive element.
In materials science and electronics, a material, often in glassy or crystalline form, with specific semiconducting, optical, or switching properties, used in devices like phase-change memory and optical disks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or usage. Purely technical term.
Connotations
None beyond its scientific definition.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “chalcogenide” in a Sentence
chalcogenide glasschalcogenide of [element][element] chalcogenidechalcogenide-based [device/material]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chalcogenide” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The chalcogenide layer is deposited via sputtering.
American English
- The device uses a chalcogenide glass core.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used, except in highly specialised tech/electronics manufacturing reports.
Academic
Used in chemistry, materials science, physics, and engineering research papers.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Core term in fields studying semiconductors, non-oxide glasses, optical recording, and non-volatile memory technology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chalcogenide”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chalcogenide”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chalcogenide”
- Mispronouncing 'chalcogen' as /tʃælkoʊdʒən/ or mis-stressing as chalo-GEN-ide. Incorrectly applying to oxides (oxygen is a chalcogen, but 'oxide' is the more specific, common term).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, oxygen is a chalcogen. However, compounds with oxygen are almost always called 'oxides.' The term 'chalcogenide' is typically reserved for compounds with sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and sometimes polonium.
Primarily in advanced technology: as the active material in rewritable optical disks (CD-RW, DVD-RW), in non-volatile phase-change memory (PCM), in infrared optics, and in some photovoltaics and chemical sensors.
It refers to the ability of certain chalcogenide materials (like GeSbTe) to switch rapidly and reversibly between an amorphous (glassy, disordered) state and a crystalline (ordered) state when heated by a laser or electrical pulse. These states have different electrical resistance, which is used to store data.
It is primarily a noun (e.g., 'a chalcogenide'). It is frequently used attributively as a noun adjunct (functioning like an adjective) in terms like 'chalcogenide glass' or 'chalcogenide material.'
A chemical compound consisting of at least one chalcogen (an element from group 16, such as oxygen, sulfur, selenium, or tellurium) and at least one more electropositive element.
Chalcogenide is usually technical/scientific in register.
Chalcogenide: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkælkədʒənaɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkælkədʒənaɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'chalco-' (from Greek for 'copper ore,' but here meaning ore-former elements like sulfur) + '-genide' (from 'gen' for family/kind, meaning 'born of' or related to). So, a compound born from the ore-forming elements (group 16).
Conceptual Metaphor
Often conceptualised as a NETWORK or FRAMEWORK (in glassy chalcogenides) or as a SWITCH (in phase-change applications).
Practice
Quiz
What is a chalcogenide?