Chemicals

Chemicals are more accurately referred to as chemical substances, which are forms of matter that have constant chemical compositions and characteristic properties. Chemical substances cannot be separated into components without breaking chemical bonds (i.e. using physical separation methods). Chemical substances exist in solid, liquid, gas and plasma phases and change phases with varying temperatures and pressures.

Chemical substances represent products and commodities in the materials, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, energy, agricultural, industrial, defense, and various product manufacturing industries.

Major functional and industrially-significant chemical product categories include inorganic and organic chemicals, ceramics, polymers, elastomers, oleochemicals, surfactants, alcohols, acids, bases, alkalis, salts, dyes, colorants, coatings, oils, esters, solvents, neutral gases, source gases, process gases, and petrochemicals. Various specialty chemicals are supplied from the oil & gas sector, while other chemicals are sourced from uncultivated biomass, agriculture, mining, industrial chemical synthesis reactions, and even water. Many producers of chemicals also represent consumers as various chemical synthesis and production processes are combined through associated chemical inputs and outputs. Total global shipments of chemicals and chemical products represent trillions of dollars annually and are represented by industries in practically every country of the world.