'non-chemical' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'chemical', which comes from the Greek word 'khemia', meaning 'alchemy'.

'non-chemical' was formed by adding the prefix 'non-' to 'chemical', a term that has been in use since the 17th century.

Initially, 'chemical' referred to alchemical processes, but now it refers to substances with a distinct molecular composition. 'Non-chemical' has always meant the absence of such substances.