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nonvolatile

nonvolatile

7.4
A liquid or solid that does not turn into a gas at room temperature
  • adjective
  • /nɒnˈvɒlətəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : no volátil
  • The safe was filled with nonvolatile chemicals that would not easily evaporate.

Examples

  • Scientists prefer using nonvolatile solvents in their experiments to avoid losing materials through vaporization.

  • Sampling of sand and water was conducted for TPH and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), the group of nonvolatile contaminants of greatest public health concern.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The paint was formulated with nonvolatile compounds to ensure it would not emit harmful gases as it dried.

Synonyms

nonvolatilizable
vsnonvolatile
  • Specialized
9.9

Does not change easily into a gas

is identical in meaning but uses a different suffix form

Antonyms

volatile
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A substance that easily turns into gas at room temperature

Compounds

nonvolatile storage
  • Specialized
5.1

Memory that keeps data when a device is off, like a hard drive

How Volatile

volatile
  • Specialized
17 7.3
nonvolatile
  • Specialized
7.4

Surface Forms

nonvolatile positive

Morphology

nonvolatile = volatile (transparent) = non + volatile

The prefix 'non-' clearly negates the meaning of 'volatile', making the word's meaning easily derivable.

Etymology

Nonvolatile breaks into non- ('not') and volatile, from a root meaning 'to fly', so imagine a liquid that does not 'fly away' as a gas. That's why in chemistry nonvolatile describes a substance that does not easily turn into a gas.