Term: fume
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.F02551

Definition:
Fine solid particles (aerosol), predominantly less than 1 µm in diameter, which result from the condensation of vapour from some types of chemical reaction. Usually this is formed from the gaseous state generally after volatilization from melted substances and often accompanied by chemical reactions such as oxidation.

Related Terms:
1) aerosol (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00176).
2) volatilization (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.V06632).
3) oxidation (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.O04362).

Source: PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2190 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167)

Citation: 'fume' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.F02551

License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms.

Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.