Volatile organic compound
Volatile Organic Compound
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air, a trait known as volatility.
Pronunciation
Volatile Organic Compound: /vɒlətaɪl ɔːrɡænɪk kɒmpaʊnd/
Etymology
The term "Volatile Organic Compound" is derived from the characteristics of these compounds. "Volatile" comes from the Latin volatilis meaning "flying or quick to flee", referring to the high vapor pressure of these compounds that allows them to easily evaporate. "Organic" refers to the fact that these compounds contain carbon, and "Compound" signifies that they are composed of more than one element.
Related Terms
- Vapor Pressure: The pressure exerted by a vapor in thermodynamic equilibrium with its condensed phases at a given temperature in a closed system.
- Sublimation (phase transition): The transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing through the liquid state.
- Organic Compound: Any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon.
- Carbon: A chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds.
Health Effects
VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. They include both human-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds. Most scents or odors are of VOCs. Some VOCs are dangerous to human health or cause harm to the environment. Anthropogenic VOCs are regulated by law, especially indoors, where concentrations are the highest.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Volatile organic compound
- Wikipedia's article - Volatile organic compound
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