alkali

EN
noun

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

male

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

female

πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§

male

πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§

female

Word Forms

Plural

alkalis

Description

Alkali is a type of chemical substance that tastes bitter, feels slippery, and neutralizes acids β€” think of soap or baking soda. It's the opposite of an acid on the pH scale, and common examples include sodium hydroxide (lye) and potassium carbonate (potash).

Examples

Sodium hydroxide is a strong alkali commonly used in drain cleaners.

Farmers sometimes add lime to acidic soil to increase its alkali content.

The reaction between an alkali and an acid produces salt and water.

Baking soda is a mild alkali often used in cooking and household cleaning.

Litmus paper turns blue when dipped in an alkali solution.

Root

alkali

Comes from Arabic 'al-qily' (Ψ§Ω„Ω‚Ω„ΩŠ), meaning 'the ashes of saltwort plants', referring to the alkaline ash used in soap-making. The term entered Medieval Latin as 'alkali' and then into English via Old French and Middle English. Core concept: a basic, proton-accepting substance that neutralizes acids. Examples include alkali, alkaline, alkalinity, alkali metal, alkali soil.