synthesis definition

• TheFreeDictionary
• Word / Article
• Starts with
• Free toolbar & extensions
• Word of the Day
• Free content

syn·the·sis

Syn•the•sis.

• abstract thought
• alpha-tocopheral
• amyl alcohol
• benzoic aldehyde
• biosynthesis
• carbimazole
• cell organelle
• syntactic category
• syntactical
• syntactically
• syntactician
• syntagmatic
• syntagmatite
• syntax checker
• syntax error
• syntax language
• Synteretics
• synthesis gas
• synthesiser
• synthesized
• synthesizer
• synthespian
• synthetic biology
• synthetic cubism
• synthetic division
• synthetic exercise
• synthetic fiber
• synthetic heroin
• Synthetic language
• synthetic phonics
• synthetic resin
• synthetic rubber
• synthetic sculpture
• synthetic speech
• synthetic substance
• synthetic thinking
• synthetical
• Synth Guitar Unit Selector
• Synth Pop Och Cyber Kultur
• Syntherisma exilis
• Synthesis (cell cycle)
• Synthesis (chemical)
• Synthesis (chemistry)
• Synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies
• Synthesis and Modelling Working Group
• Synthesis and System Integration of Mixed Information
• Synthesis Dependent Strand Annealing
• Synthesis Design Group, Inc.
• Synthesis Engineering Education Coalition
• Synthesis imaging
• Synthesis of Aircraft
• synthesis of continuity
• Synthesis of Database Applications and Multimedia Applications
• Synthesis of Image and Speech Processing Algorithms on Silicon
• synthesis of learning
• Synthesis of Mechanisms
• Synthesis of Simulation Technologies
• synthesis period
• Synthesis phase
• Synthesis Reaction
• Synthesis Solutions, Inc.
• Synthesis Telescope
• Facebook Share

• Dictionaries home
• American English
• Collocations
• German-English
• Grammar home
• Practical English Usage
• Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
• Word Lists home
• My Word Lists
• Recent additions
• Resources home
• Text Checker

Definition of synthesis noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Take your English to the next level

The Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus explains the difference between groups of similar words. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism', more commonly misspelled words, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, the words of the week - may 31, 9 superb owl words, 10 words for lesser-known games and sports, etymologies for every day of the week, games & quizzes.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of synthesize in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

• absorptive capacity
• absorptivity
• acidification
• endothermic reaction
• excitability

synthesize | Business English

Examples of synthesize, translations of synthesize.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

any of the rods that join the edge of a wheel to its centre, so giving the wheel its strength

Worse than or worst of all? How to use the words ‘worse’ and ‘worst’

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• English    Verb
• Business    Verb
• Translations
• All translations

To add synthesize to a word list please sign up or log in.

Add synthesize to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

• Science Notes Posts
• Contact Science Notes
• Todd Helmenstine Biography
• Anne Helmenstine Biography
• Free Printable Periodic Tables (PDF and PNG)
• Periodic Table Wallpapers
• Interactive Periodic Table
• Periodic Table Posters
• How to Grow Crystals
• Chemistry Projects
• Fire and Flames Projects
• Holiday Science
• Chemistry Problems With Answers
• Physics Problems
• Unit Conversion Example Problems
• Chemistry Worksheets
• Biology Worksheets
• Periodic Table Worksheets
• Physical Science Worksheets
• Science Lab Worksheets
• My Amazon Books

What Is a Synthesis Reaction? Definition and Examples

A synthesis reaction is one of the four main types of chemical reactions , along with decomposition, single replacement , and double replacement reactions. Here is the synthesis reaction definition, examples of the reaction using elements and compounds, a look at how many reactants are involved, and how to recognize a synthesis reaction.

Synthesis Reaction Definition

A synthesis reaction is a chemical reaction that combines two or more simple elements or compounds to form a more complex product . A + B → AB This type of reaction is also called a direct combination reaction or simply a combination reaction. It’s the type of reaction that forms compounds from their elements. Synthesis reactions also make large molecules from smaller ones. A synthesis reaction is the opposite of a decomposition reaction , which breaks complex molecules into simpler ones.

Synthesis Reaction Examples

There are many examples of synthesis reactions. Some involve elements. In others, an element reacts with a compound. In still other cases, compounds react with other compounds to form larger molecules.

Synthesis Reactions Between Elements

• Iron and sulfur react to form iron sulfide. 8 Fe + S 8  → 8 FeS
• Potassium and chlorine react to form potassium chloride. 2K (s)  + Cl 2(g)  → 2KCl (s)
• Iron and oxygen react to form rust. 4 Fe (s) + 3 O 2  (g) → 2 Fe 2 O 3  (s)
• Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to form water. 2 H 2 (g) + O 2 (g) → 2 H 2 O(g)

Synthesis Reactions Between an Element and a Compound

• Carbon monoxide reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. 2 CO(g) + O 2 (g) → 2CO 2 (g)
• Nitric oxide reacts with oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide. 2NO + O 2  → 2NO 2
• CH 2 CH 2 (g) + Br 2 (ℓ) → CH 2 BrCH 2 Br

Synthesis Reactions Between Compounds

• Sulfur oxide reacts with water to form sulfuric acid. SO 3  (g) + H 2 O (l) → H 2 SO 4  (aq)
• Calcium oxide reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide. 2CaO (s) + 2H 2 O (l) → 2Ca(OH) 2 (aq)
• Iron oxide and sulfur oxide react to form iron sulfate. Fe 2 O 3  + 3SO 3  → Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3

How Many Reactants Are There?

Usually, there are two reactants in a synthesis reaction. They could be two elements, an element and a compound, or two compounds. However, sometimes more reactants combine to form a product. Here are examples of synthesis reactions involving three reactants:

• Sodium carbonate reacts with water and carbon dioxide to form sodium bicarbonate. Na 2 CO 3  + H 2 O + CO 2 → 2NaHCO 3
• Nitrogen reacts with water and oxygen to form ammonium nitrate. 2N 2 (g) + 4H 2 O(g) + O 2 (g) → 2NH 4 NO 3 (s)

How to Recognize a Synthesis Reaction

The easiest way to recognize a synthesis reaction is to look for a reaction where multiple reactants produce a single product. However, sometimes a synthesis reaction equation includes multiple products and reactants. A good example is the overall reaction for photosynthesis, in which carbon dioxide and water combine to form glucose and oxygen. CO 2  + H 2 O → C 6 H 12 O 6  + O 2 But, even in this case, two simpler molecules react to form a more complex one. So, this is the key in synthesis reaction identification.

Some synthesis reactions form predictable products. If you recognize them, it’s easy to recognize the reaction type:

• Reacting two elements forms a binary compound. For example, hydrogen and oxygen react to form water.
• When two nonmetals react, more than one product is possible. For example, sulfur and oxygen react to form sulfur dioxide or sulfur trioxide.
• Alkali metals react with nonmetals to form ionic compounds. For example, sodium and chlorine form sodium chloride.
• Transition metals react with nonmetals to form more than one possible product. To predict the product, you need to know the oxidation state (charge) or the metallic cation.
• Nonmetal oxides react with water to form acids. For example sulfur dioxide reacts with water to make sulfurous acid.
• Metallic oxides react with water to form bases.
• Nonmetal oxides react with one another to form salts.

Related Posts

Definition of 'synthesis'

synthesis in American English

Synthesis in british english, synthesis in the pharmaceutical industry, examples of 'synthesis' in a sentence synthesis, related word partners synthesis, trends of synthesis.

View usage over: Since Exist Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

In other languages synthesis

• American English : synthesis / ˈsɪnθɪsɪs /
• Brazilian Portuguese : síntese
• Chinese : 结合体
• European Spanish : síntesis
• French : synthèse
• German : Synthese
• Italian : sintesi
• Japanese : 総合体
• Korean : 종합
• European Portuguese : síntese
• Spanish : síntesis
• Thai : การสังเคราะห์

Browse alphabetically synthesis

• synthase activity
• synthesis gas
• synthesis pathway
• synthesiser
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'S'

Related terms of synthesis

• lipid synthesis
• voice synthesis
• aperture synthesis
• chemical synthesis
• View more related words

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

Wordle Helper

Scrabble Tools

Synthesis Reaction Definition and Examples

Overview of a Synthesis or Direct Combination Reaction

• Chemical Laws
• Periodic Table
• Projects & Experiments
• Scientific Method
• Biochemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Medical Chemistry
• Chemistry In Everyday Life
• Famous Chemists
• Activities for Kids
• Abbreviations & Acronyms
• Weather & Climate
• Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College

A synthesis reaction or direct combination reaction is one of the most common types of chemical reaction.

In a synthesis reaction, two or more chemical species combine to form a more complex product: A + B → AB.

In this form, a synthesis reaction is easy to recognize because you have more reactants than products. Two or more reactants combine to make one larger compound.

One way to think of synthesis reactions is that they are the reverse of a decomposition reaction .

Synthesis Reaction Examples

In the simplest synthesis reactions, two elements combine to form a binary compound (a compound made of two elements). The combination of iron and sulfur to form iron (II) sulfide is an example of a synthesis reaction :

8 Fe + S 8 → 8 FeS

Another example of a synthesis reaction is the formation of potassium chloride from potassium and chlorine gas :

2K (s) + Cl 2(g) → 2KCl (s)

As in these reactions, it's common for a metal to react with a nonmetal. One typical nonmetal is oxygen, as in the everyday synthesis reaction of rust formation :

4 Fe (s) + 3 O 2 (g) → 2 Fe 2 O 3 (s)

Direct combination reactions aren't always just simple elements reacting to form compounds: Another everyday synthesis reaction, for example, is the reaction that forms hydrogen sulfate, a component of acid rain. Here, the sulfur oxide compound reacts with water to form a single product:

SO 3 (g) + H 2 O (l) → H 2 SO 4 (aq)

Multiple Products

So far, the reactions you have seen have only one product molecule on the right-hand side of the chemical equation. Let's take a look at more complex reactions with multiple products. For example, the overall equation for photosynthesis:

CO 2 + H 2 O → C 6 H 12 O 6 + O 2

The glucose molecule is more complex than either carbon dioxide or water.

Remember, the key to identifying a synthesis or direct combination reaction is to recognize two or more reactants form a more complex product molecule.

Predictable Products

Certain synthesis reactions form predictable products. For example:

• Combining two pure elements will form a binary compound.
• A metallic oxide and carbon dioxide will form a carbonate.
• Binary salts combined with oxygen form a chlorate.
• Examples of Chemical Reactions in Everyday Life
• Synthesis Reaction Description Plus Examples
• Simple Chemical Reactions
• Chemical Reaction Definition and Examples
• Types of Chemical Reactions
• How Many Types of Chemical Reactions Are There?
• Reaction Definition in Chemistry
• Combination Reaction Definition
• 4 Types of Inorganic Chemical Reactions
• Decomposition Reaction Definition
• What Is a Chemical Reaction?
• Single-Displacement Reaction Definition and Examples
• Anabolism and Catabolism Definition and Examples
• Chemistry Vocabulary Terms You Should Know
• Chemosynthesis Definition and Examples
• What Are the Products of Photosynthesis?