atmophile


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at·mo·phile

 (ăt′mə-fīl′)
adj.
Relating to or being a volatile chemical element that tends to occur in gaseous form in the atmosphere of the earth or other solar system body.
n.
An atmophile element.
[Greek atmos, vapor; see atmosphere + -phile.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
References in periodicals archive ?
Hence, radon is a typical atmophile element and exists naturally in gaseous form.
Radon release from underground strata to the surface and uniaxial compressive test of rock samples
His four classifications are still used today: the lithophiles (rock-lovers), the chalcophiles (ore- or sulfur-lovers), the atmophiles (gas-lovers) and siderophiles, the iron-lovers.
Earth's iron-lovers: geochemists explore platinum, gold and other rare elements to understand the planet's evolution
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