Term: chemicals

chemicals (noun): substances with a distinct molecular composition that are produced by or used in a chemical process. In a broader sense, everything made of matter is composed of chemicals.

synonyms: substances, compounds, elements, reagents. 

pronunciation: /ˈkemɪklz/ 

translation: ķimikālijas, ķīmiskas vielas 

example: The laboratory has strict safety protocols for handling hazardous chemicals. 

other words from this root: chemistry (noun), chemist (noun), chemical (adjective), chemically (adverb).

Classification

In everyday language, people often use “chemicals” to refer to synthetic or “unnatural” substances, but scientifically, water (H2​O) and oxygen (O2​) are also chemicals.