Kemikális

Kemikális is an adjective in Hungarian used to refer to anything related to chemistry or to chemical substances. It can describe materials, processes, equipment, or phenomena that belong to the field of chemistry. Although it shares meaning with the more common term kémiai, kemikális is found in scientific, industrial, or stylistic contexts and may be used to vary tone or register. The term appears in discussions of manufacturing, pharmacology, environmental science, and other areas where chemical properties and interactions are important.

Etymology: The form derives from the root kem- linked to kémia (chemistry) with the adjectival suffix -ális, aligning with other Hungarian adjectives. The spelling reflects historical or stylistic variation in Hungarian; kémiai is generally more widely used and preferred in standard prose. Related noun forms include kemikália (chemicals) and kemikáliák (chemicals).

Usage notes: In formal or scientific Hungarian, kémiai is typically preferred. Kemikális may appear in older texts, certain industry contexts, marketing language, or cross-linguistic translations. It can also be used to emphasize chemical nature in compound nouns such as kemikális anyagok (chemical substances) or kemikális készítmények (chemical preparations).

See also: kémia; kémiai anyag; kémiai reakció; kémiai analízis.