The volatile chemical compound required careful handling in a temperature-controlled laboratory to prevent sudden decomposition.
这种不稳定的化合物需要在温控实验室中小心处理，以防止突然分解。
Which choice best defines “volatile”?
D — Unstable changeable explosive. “volatile” means unstable changeable explosive.
Which word means “unstable changeable explosive”?
B — volatile. “volatile” means unstable changeable explosive.
volatile — unstable changeable explosive. In Chinese: 不稳定的，易变的；易挥发的.
volatile is pronounced /ˈvɒlətaɪl/.
The volatile chemical compound required careful handling in a temperature-controlled laboratory to prevent sudden decomposition. (这种不稳定的化合物需要在温控实验室中小心处理，以防止突然分解。)
unstable, changeable, erratic — all close in meaning to volatile (unstable changeable explosive).
stable, constant — each the opposite of volatile (unstable changeable explosive).
Yes. volatile is on the SAT Prep Easy list — mid-frequency academic words that do get tested. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.
volat(fly away) + ile → volatile, unstable.