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Alkali

//ˈæl.kəˌlaɪ// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    One of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, soda ash, caustic soda, potash, ammonia, and lithia, whose distinguishing characteristics are dissolving 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. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water wordnet
  3. 3
    Soluble mineral matter, other than common salt, contained in soils of natural waters. US, Western, countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    a mixture of soluble salts found in arid soils and some bodies of water; detrimental to agriculture wordnet

Etymology

From French alcali, from Medieval Latin alcali, ultimately from Arabic اَلْقِلْي (al-qily, “alkali, ashes of the saltwort”), related to قَلَى (qalā, “to roast in a pan, fry”).

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