4. Glossary

Enregistrement, évaluation, autorisation et restriction des substances chimiques; Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of CHemicals (REACH)

European Union regulation adopted to better protect human health and the environment against the risks associated with chemical substances, while promoting the competitiveness of the European Union's chemical industry.

Degree of oxidation; Oxidation state

Electrical charge that an atom would carry if the molecule's bonds were all ionic. Phosphorus has many oxidation states, from –III to +V: –III (PH ₃ ), –II (P ₂ H ₄ ), 0 (P ₄ ), +I (H ₃ ...