Definition of volatile

The word "volatile" originated from the Middle French word "volatil" meaning "capable of flight" or "fleeting." It was borrowed into English in the late 14th century, where it was initially used to describe things that could easily evaporate or escape into the air, such as certain liquids or gases. The term gained scientific significance during the Enlightenment era, as chemists began to differentiate between substances that were highly reactive and unstable, as opposed to those that were more stable and inert. Volatile substances were defined as those which readily changed into a vapor or gas at normal temperatures or pressures, while less volatile substances required higher temperatures or pressures to evaporate. In modern chemistry, the term "volatile" is still used to describe substances that readily vaporize at typical environmental conditions, making them prone to evaporation and relatively short-lived in the atmosphere. This includes volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are released into the air through various human activities and can contribute to air pollution and climate change. Understanding the volatility of substances is therefore crucial in fields such as environmental science and chemical engineering, where careful handling and mitigation strategies are needed to prevent unnecessary harm to human health and the environment.