semivolatile

8.1

Able to partly turn into a gas at normal temperatures, used for some chemicals

adjective
/ˌsɛmɪˈvɒlətʌɪl/

Specialized

: semivolátil

Many pesticides are considered semivolatile because they can evaporate at room temperature but are not fully volatile.

Examples

The study focused on semivolatile organic compounds found in the air and their impact on human health.
Researchers identified semivolatile chemicals in the atmosphere that contribute to air pollution.
Each stack sampling run provided data on volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and on inorganic compounds such as metals and hydrogen chloride.

Academic text (1995)

Synonyms

vaporific

vssemivolatile

Specialized

1 9.9

Can become vapor when heated

is only partly able to become a gas at normal temperatures

evaporable

vssemivolatile

Specialized

7.7

Able to turn from a liquid into a gas when heated or left in the open air

is only partly able to become a gas at normal temperatures

vaporizable

vssemivolatile

Specialized

7.3

Can turn into a gas when heated or at room temperature

is only partly able to become a gas at normal temperatures

volatilizable

vssemivolatile

Specialized

9.6

Able to become a gas when heated

is only partly able to become a gas at normal temperatures

Antonyms

volatile

Specialized

14 7.3

Easily changing into gas at room temperature

nonvolatile

Specialized

1 7.4

A liquid or solid that does not turn into a gas at room temperature

How Volatile

volatile

Specialized

14 7.3

semivolatile

Specialized

8.1

nonvolatile

Specialized

1 7.4

Surface Forms

semivolatile positive

Morphology

semivolatile = volatile (transparent) = semi + volatile

The meaning is directly compositional: 'semi-' means partly and 'volatile' means able to evaporate easily.

Etymology

Semivolatile combines semi- meaning 'partly' and volatile, which comes from an old root meaning 'to fly' and is used for things that 'escape into the air' quickly. So a semivolatile substance only partly evaporates at normal temperatures, which is why it can be found in both air and soil.