bucket chemistry

noun

Any chemical process or technique that is relatively low-tech, and does not require specialist equipment or skills, or precise measurement or control.

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Meanings

nounbucket chemistry (uncountable)
  1. informaluncountablechemistryAny chemical process or technique that is relatively low-tech, and does not require specialist equipment or skills, or precise measurement or control.

    One can prepare the organo-rare earth complexes by rather easy bucket chemistry.

    1994, E. Roland Menzel, Laser Spectroscopy: Techniques and Applications
    2 more examples

    Analytical procedures for pesticides were largely still in the "bucket chemistry" era and the methods were provided by either the chemical company or the "Official Methods" of the Association of Agricultural Chemists.

    1971, Francis A. Gunther, Residue Reviews

    There are certain manufacturing methods that do not require traditional chemical apparatuses. "Bucket" chemistry is an appropriate term, because these reactions can literally take place in a plastic bucket.

    2003, Donnell R. Christian, Forensic Investigation of Clandestine Laboratories
Cite this entry
APA

bucket chemistry. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bucket%20chemistry

MLA

“bucket chemistry.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bucket%20chemistry. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bucket chemistry,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bucket%20chemistry.

Source: bucket chemistry on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.