a list of compounds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a list of compounds" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a collection or enumeration of chemical compounds in a scientific or educational context. Example: "In the laboratory, we analyzed a list of compounds to determine their properties and potential applications."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

After extended negotiations, the Food and Drug Administration and the industry agreed to maintain a list of compounds "generally recognized as safe," the use of which companies are not obligated to reveal.

The New Yorker

On 20 January, politicians debated whether the substance – which is sometimes used by gay men in order to make sex more enjoyable –  should be included in a list of compounds to be banned as part of the Government's Psychoactive Substances Bill.

Independent

A typical example is a list of compounds that are similar to a given compound.

Journal of Cheminformatics

First, each provider (through the interface) is asked for a list of compounds for a given search string and the list is filled with the results.

Journal of Cheminformatics

The outputs are generated as a list of compounds sorted by similarity scores to the query and can be downloaded in a mol2 file.

Journal of Cheminformatics

When performing this comparison with compounds as starting point, i.e. establishing if for a list of compounds the databases provide the links between chemical structures and patents they appear in, we obtained similar results.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Andrew Rice writes that the creator of True/Slant picked "its name off a list of compound words that were made up by a Web developer".

The New York Times

He started the site with a modest $3 million investment from Fuse Capital and Forbes Media, picking its name off a list of compound words that were made up by a Web developer.

The New York Times - Magazine

At execution, the workflow retrieves a set of molecular compounds in SMILES format from the ChemSpider database [17], associated to a list of compound names (or identifiers) as input.

Journal of Cheminformatics

The main product of a probabilistic annotation is a list of compound candidates ranked by their probabilities (Supplementary Fig. S2).

Bioinformatics

When a list of compound names is entered into MetaboAnalyst, Over Representation Analysis (ORA) is performed and evaluates whether a metabolite set is represented more than expected by chance within the given compound list.

Analytical Chemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When compiling "a list of compounds", ensure the compounds are clearly defined and relevant to the context. Include identifiers such as CAS numbers or chemical formulas for unambiguous referencing.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by providing sufficient detail for each compound on "a list of compounds". Vague names or incomplete descriptions can lead to confusion or inaccurate results.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a list of compounds" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It identifies a collection of chemical substances.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a list of compounds" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed noun phrase, particularly in scientific and technical contexts. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and suitable for use in various scenarios involving the enumeration of chemical substances. Its primary function is to categorize and reference these substances, often for analytical purposes. The register is formal, reflecting the technical nature of the subject matter. When using "a list of compounds", ensure that each compound is clearly identified and relevant to the context to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "a compilation of chemicals" or "a catalog of substances" can be used to provide nuance in different situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a compilation of chemicals

Replaces "compounds" with "chemicals", suggesting a focus on substances with defined chemical structures.

a catalog of substances

Replaces "list" with "catalog" and "compounds" with "substances", implying a more organized and detailed collection.

an inventory of chemical entities

Uses more formal and technical terms like "inventory" and "chemical entities" for a scientific register.

a register of chemical species

Uses "register" to suggest an official record and "chemical species" as a more precise term.

a collection of molecular structures

Focuses on the molecular structure aspect of the compounds.

a database of chemical formulations

Suggests a more structured and searchable collection, focusing on formulations rather than pure compounds.

a series of organic molecules

Specifies "organic molecules", limiting the scope to carbon-based compounds.

a grouping of elements

A more general term, referring to substances composed of the same type of atoms.

chemical constituents

Refers to the components of a substance, rather than a list of distinct compounds.

a set of reagents

Implies that the compounds are used for a specific purpose, such as chemical reactions.

FAQs

How can I use "a list of compounds" in a sentence?

You can use "a list of compounds" to introduce a set of chemical substances being studied, analyzed, or utilized. For example, "The experiment involved analyzing "a list of compounds" present in the sample".

What are some alternatives to saying "a list of compounds"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "a compilation of chemicals", "a catalog of substances", or "an inventory of chemical entities".

Is it correct to say "a compounds list" instead of "a list of compounds"?

While understandable, "a compounds list" is less common and grammatically awkward. "A list of compounds" is the standard and more appropriate phrasing.

What is the difference between "a list of compounds" and "a mixture of compounds"?

"A list of compounds" implies an enumeration of distinct substances, whereas "a mixture of compounds" suggests that the substances are physically combined but not chemically bonded.