| Abrasive | A substance that has hard particles in it for polishing surfaces |
| Acid | A substance with a pH level of less than 7 that is able to neutralise alkali substances and can dissolve some metals |
| Alkali | A substance with a pH level of 7 or greater that is able to dissolve in water |
| Anionic | Negatively charged ions (particles) |
| Anti-bacterial | Slowing down the growth of bacteria |
| Antioxidant | A product that slows down oxidation which is a process that would make things deteriorate |
| Caustic | Capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action: corrosive |
| Degreaser | A chemical product that is able to dissolve water insoluble substance like grease or fats |
| Detergent | A cleaning agent that acts similarly to soap but is made from chemical compounds not fats and lye. |
| Disinfectant | A chemical that destroys bacteria |
| Emollient | A substance that is able to soften and soothe the skin |
| Emulsified | A layer of fats in a mixture that is broken down into smaller particles |
| Emulsion | A mixture of two or more liquids that do not dissolve into eachother |
| Flash Point | The lowest temperature at which a substance will ignite |
| Miscible | Two liquids are miscible if they are able to dissolve completely into eachother when combined in any proportions |
| Non-ionic | Neutrally charged ions or particles |
| Penetrant | A substance that is able to lower the surface tension of liquid and is therefore able to penetrate more easily |
| PH | A scale of measuring if a substance is alkaline (above 7) or acid (below 7) |
| Polymer | A substance that has a molecular structure built up completely from a large number of similar units bonded together repeatedly. |
| Reagent | A substance used in a chemical reaction to detect, measure, examine, or produce other substances. |
| Sanitizer | A substance that cleans and disinfects |
| Sequesterant | To isolate a constituent of a chemical system by chelation or other means. |
| Soil | Dirt |
| Soluble | A substance that is able to be dissolved |
| Solution | A mixture of liquids where one is able to dissolve into another |
| Solvent | A substance into which another substance can dissolve |
| Surface Active Agent | This is a chemical agent that is able to reduce the surface tension of the liquid it is dissolved in and thus allows for dirt to be lifted off surfaces. |
| Surfactant | Surface Active Agent. This is a chemical agent that is able to reduce the surface tension of the liquid it is dissolved in and thus allows for dirt to be lifted off surfaces. |
| Wetting Agent | This is a chemical agent that is able to reduce the surface tension of the liquid it is dissolved in and thus allows for dirt to be lifted off surfaces. |