TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
TRANSIENT CHEMICAL SPECIES [4 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2005-07-05
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Analytical Chemistry
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- labile
1, record 1, English, labile
see observation, adjective
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Said of [chemical species, for example] rocks and minerals, that are mechanically or chemically unstable ... 2, record 1, English, - labile
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
... a "labile sandstone" or "labile graywacke" containing abundant unstable fragments of rocks and minerals ... 2, record 1, English, - labile
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
As opposed to "stabile." 3, record 1, English, - labile
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
labile : The term has loosely been used to describe either a relatively "unstable" and "transient" chemical species or(less commonly) a relatively stable but reactive species. It must therefore not be used without explanation of the intended meaning, and is best avoided altogether. [Related concepts :] inert, persistent, reactive, unreactive. 4, record 1, English, - labile
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 PHR
Labile salts. 5, record 1, English, - labile
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Chimie analytique
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- labile
1, record 1, French, labile
see observation, adjective
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- instable 2, record 1, French, instable
adjective
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Se dit de ce qui est fragile, peu stable (surtout en chimie [...]) 3, record 1, French, - labile
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
labile : Terme flou pour qualifier soit une espèce chimique «transitoire» et «instable», soit moins couramment une espèce relativement «stable» mais «réactive». On ne doit donc pas l'utiliser sans explication sur le sens qu'on lui donne. [Notions apparentées :] inerte; non réactif; réactif; persistant. 4, record 1, French, - labile
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 PHR
Composé labile. 3, record 1, French, - labile
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Química analítica
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- lábil
1, record 1, Spanish, l%C3%A1bil
correct, adjective
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Que tiene escasa constancia o consistencia y desaparece pronto. 2, record 1, Spanish, - l%C3%A1bil
Record 2 - internal organization data 2004-04-30
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Analytical Chemistry
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- unstable
1, record 2, English, unstable
correct, adjective
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Tending toward decomposition or other unwanted chemical change during normal handling or storage. 2, record 2, English, - unstable
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
An unstable chemical in its pure state, or as commonly produced or transported, will vigorously polymerize, decompose, condense, or become self-reactive under conditions of shock, pressure, or temperature. See also Stability. 2, record 2, English, - unstable
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Some substances are unstable; that is, they react when heated or when they come into contact with another product. As a result, they may cause pressure build-up or increases in temperature, or they may release toxic or corrosive products. 3, record 2, English, - unstable
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
unstable : The opposite of "stable, "i. e. the chemical species concerned has a higher molar Gibbs energy than some assumed standard. The term should not be used in place of "reactive" or "transient, "although more reactive or transient species are frequently also more unstable.(Very unstable chemical species tend to undergo exothermic unimolecular decompositions. Variations in the structure of the related chemical species of this kind generally affect the energy of the transition states for these decompositions less than they affect the stability of the decomposing chemical species. Low stability may therefore parallel a relatively high rate of unimolecular decomposition.) 4, record 2, English, - unstable
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Chimie analytique
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- instable
1, record 2, French, instable
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
combinaison instable : qui se décompose facilement en ses éléments. 2, record 2, French, - instable
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
instable : Contraire de «stable»; en d'autres termes, l'énergie de Gibbs molaire de l'espèce chimique concernée est plus élevée que celle d'une référence sous-entendue. Ce terme ne doit pas être utilisé comme synonyme de «réactif» ou de «transitoire», bien que souvent les espèces les plus réactives ou les plus éphémères soient aussi les plus instables. (Les espèces chimiques très instables ont tendance à subir des décompositions unimoléculaires exothermiques. Généralement, les variations de structure d'espèces chimiques de ce type, appartenant à une même famille, affectent moins l'énergie es états de transition de leur décomposition que leur stabilité. Dans ce contexte, une faible stabilité peut signifier que la décomposition unimoléculaire est relativement rapide). 3, record 2, French, - instable
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Química analítica
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- inestable
1, record 2, Spanish, inestable
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Se aplica a los compuestos químicos que se descomponen con facilidad. 2, record 2, Spanish, - inestable
Record 3 - internal organization data 2004-04-15
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Analytical Chemistry
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- transient species
1, record 3, English, transient%20species
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- transient chemical species 1, record 3, English, transient%20chemical%20species
correct
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A species occurring as a short-lived intermediate in a reaction occurring by a composite mechanism. 1, record 3, English, - transient%20species
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
transient(chemical) species : Relating to a short-lived reaction "intermediate. "It can be defined only in relation to a time scale fixed by the experimental conditions and the limitations of the technique employed in the detection of the intermediate. The term is a relative one. 1, record 3, English, - transient%20species
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Transient species are sometimes also said to be "metastable." However, this latter term should be avoided, because it relates a thermodynamic term to a kinetic property, although most transients are also thermodynamically "unstable" with respect to reactants and products. 1, record 3, English, - transient%20species
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Chimie analytique
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- espèce transitoire
1, record 3, French, esp%C3%A8ce%20transitoire
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
- espèce chimique transitoire 1, record 3, French, esp%C3%A8ce%20chimique%20transitoire
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Espèce rencontrée comme intermédiaire de courte durée de vie dans une réaction se produisant par un mécanisme composite. 1, record 3, French, - esp%C3%A8ce%20transitoire
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
espèce chimique transitoire : Qualifie un «intermédiaire réactionnel» de courte durée de vie moyenne. Le caractère transitoire ne peut être défini que par référence à un laps de temps; son ordre de grandeur dépend des conditions de l'expérience et des limites de détection de l'intermédiaire. Cette expression a aussi un sens relatif. 1, record 3, French, - esp%C3%A8ce%20transitoire
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 OBS
On dit quelquefois que les espèces transitoires sont «métastables». Toutefois, on devrait éviter ce dernier terme parce qu'il crée de la confusion entre un terme thermodynamique et une propriété cinétique, même si les espèces transitoires sont aussi thermodynamiquement «instables» par rapport aux réactifs et aux produits. 1, record 3, French, - esp%C3%A8ce%20transitoire
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 1996-10-11
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Chemistry
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- aryne
1, record 4, English, aryne
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A(usually transient) chemical species characterized by [a] grouping of carbon atoms... 1, record 4, English, - aryne
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Chimie
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- aryne
1, record 4, French, aryne
correct, masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Nom donné à une entité organique neutre non radicalaire. Les arynes correspondent aux dérivés du didéhydrobenzène non isolables, mais ayant la possibilité d'intervenir dans des réactions. 2, record 4, French, - aryne
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Les arynes sont couramment représentés avec une triple liaison formelle. 3, record 4, French, - aryne
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: