chemistry
B2Neutral; common in both everyday (extended sense) and academic/technical (core sense) contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The scientific study of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter, especially of atomic and molecular systems.
The complex emotional or psychological interaction between people; the underlying feeling or atmosphere of a situation, place, or creative work.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a non-count noun. The extended sense ('personal chemistry') is metaphorical and common in informal contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the term identically for the science. The metaphorical use is equally common.
Connotations
Neutral for the science. Positive for the interpersonal sense ('good chemistry').
Frequency
The interpersonal sense is slightly more frequent in informal US media (e.g., dating shows, sports commentary).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the chemistry of (something)chemistry between (people)a degree in chemistrya professor of chemistryVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Chemical reaction (used metaphorically)”
- “Spark (a chemistry)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in HR/team-building contexts: 'We need to assess the team's chemistry.'
Academic
Core subject: 'She is pursuing a PhD in inorganic chemistry.'
Everyday
Interpersonal: 'There was an instant chemistry between them.'
Technical
Specific branches: 'Computational chemistry models reaction pathways.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – 'chemistry' is not a verb. Use 'chemise' is a different word.
American English
- N/A – 'chemistry' is not a verb. Derivatives: 'chemisorb', 'chelate'.
adverb
British English
- N/A – The related adverb is 'chemically'.
American English
- N/A – The related adverb is 'chemically'.
adjective
British English
- N/A – The adjectival form is 'chemical'. 'Chemistry teacher' uses the noun attributively.
American English
- N/A – The adjectival form is 'chemical'. 'Chemistry major' uses the noun attributively.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We have a chemistry lesson on Tuesdays.
- The chemistry between the actors was good.
- I found the chemistry experiment very difficult.
- Their friendship has a natural chemistry.
- The company's success was partly due to the positive chemistry within the management team.
- She decided to specialise in analytical chemistry.
- The research bridges the gap between quantum physics and physical chemistry.
- The nuanced chemistry of the ensemble cast elevated the film beyond its script.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CHEMisTRY' – you TRY to understand what happens in the CHEMicallab.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS ARE CHEMICAL REACTIONS (e.g., 'sparks flew', 'they reacted well').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'химия', which can colloquially mean 'fertilizer' or 'chemical warfare agent'. The interpersonal sense exists in Russian but is a direct calque.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'chemical' as a noun synonym for 'chemistry' (Incorrect: 'I study chemical.' Correct: 'I study chemistry.' or 'I study chemicals.').
- Using plural for the science (Incorrect: 'I like chemistries.').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the primary, non-metaphorical meaning of 'chemistry'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its most common extended meaning refers to interpersonal rapport, especially in social or professional contexts.
Rarely. It is almost always uncountable (e.g., 'the chemistry is good'). One countable use is in 'the chemistries of different elements'.
'Alchemy' is the historical, often mystical, precursor to modern chemistry, concerned with transforming metals (e.g., into gold). 'Chemistry' is the established modern science.
In American English, the middle vowel is often a schwa /ə/ ('kem-uh-stree'), whereas in British English it's a short /ɪ/ ('kem-ist-ree').
Collections
Part of a collection
Science and Technology
B1 · 47 words · Basic scientific concepts and modern technology.