Alkali
['ælkəlaɪ] or ['ælkə'lai]
Definition
(noun.) a mixture of soluble salts found in arid soils and some bodies of water; detrimental to agriculture.
Inputed by Adeline--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) Soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash, etc.
(n.) One of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, potash, ammonia, and lithia, whose distinguishing peculiarities are solubility in alcohol and water, uniting with oils and fats to form soap, neutralizing and forming salts with acids, turning to brown several vegetable yellows, and changing reddened litmus to blue.
Checker: Roy
Definition
n. (chem.) a substance which combines with an acid and neutralises it forming a salt. Potash soda and lime are alkalies; they have an acrid taste (that of soap) and turn vegetable blues to green:—pl. Al′kalies.—n. Alkales′cency tendency to become alkaline.—adj. Alkales′cent tending to become alkaline: slightly alkaline.—n. Alkalim′eter an instrument for measuring the strength of alkalies.—adj. Alkaline (al′ka-līn or -lin) having the properties of an alkali.—n. Alkalin′ity.—v.t. Al′kalise to render alkaline:—pr.p. al′kalīsing; pa.p. al′kalīsed. See Acid.
Typist: Penelope
Examples
- The floors of the entire plant are scrubbed at least once a week, with hot water and a strong solution of alkali, which removes the grease. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The alkali detaches the varnish, and when the surface is washed over with a wet sponge, the metal is exposed on those parts written upon, the writing appearing metallic on a dark ground. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- All diamonds are infusible and unaffected by acids or alkali. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The nitric acid also removes the alkali from the drawing ink. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- A platinum wire connected with the positive side was brought in contact with the upper surface of the alkali. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- A neutral liquid formed as in Section 204, by the action of hydrochloric acid and the alkali solution of caustic soda, has a brackish, salty taste, and is, in fact, a solution of salt. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- The union of carbon with an alkali metal, first accomplished by Davy in 1836, was followed in 1861 by the combination of carbon with calcium by Wohler. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- In the following year Davy reported other chemical changes produced by electricity; he had succeeded in decomposing the fixed alkalis and disc overing the elements potassium and sodium. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- Davy showed, however, that this element is a constituent of many alkalis. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- No doubt what gave special zest to his study of the alkalis was the hope of overthrowing the doctrine of French chemists that oxygen was the e ssential element of every acid. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
Typed by Arlene