Definitions for alkali
ˈæl kəˌlaɪal·ka·li

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. base, alkalinoun

   any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water

   "bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia"

2. alkalinoun

   a mixture of soluble salts found in arid soils and some bodies of water; detrimental to agriculture

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. alkalinoun

   Soluble mineral matter, other than common salt, contained in soils of natural waters.

2. alkalinoun

   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.

3. alkalinoun

   Soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash, etc.

4. Etymology: French alcali, ultimately from قلي, from قلى.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ALKALInoun

   This herb they burnt to ashes, boiled them in water, and, after having evaporated the water, there remained at the bottom a white salt; this they called sal kali, or alkali. It is corrosive, producing putrefaction in animal substances, to which it is applied. John Arbuthnot on Aliments.

   Etymology: The word alkali comes from an herb, called by the Egyptians kali; by us glasswort.

   Any substance, which, when mingled with acid, produces effervescence and fermentation. See Alkalizate.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alkali

   In chemistry, an alkali (; from Arabic: القلوي, romanized: al-qaly, lit. 'ashes of the saltwort') is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. An alkali can also be defined as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a soluble base has a pH greater than 7.0. The adjective alkaline, and less often, alkalescent, is commonly used in English as a synonym for basic, especially for bases soluble in water. This broad use of the term is likely to have come about because alkalis were the first bases known to obey the Arrhenius definition of a base, and they are still among the most common bases.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alkalinoun

   soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash, etc

2. Alkalinoun

   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

3. Etymology: [F. alcali, ultimately fr. Ar. alqal ashes of the plant saltwort, fr. qalay to roast in a pan, fry.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alkali

   In chemistry, an alkali is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal element. Some authors also define an alkali as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a soluble base has a pH greater than 7. The adjective alkaline is commonly used in English as a synonym for base, especially for soluble bases. This broad use of the term is likely to have come about because alkalis were the first bases known to obey the Arrhenius definition of a base and are still among the more common bases.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alkali

   al′ka-li, or -lī, 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. [Ar. al-qalīy, ashes.]

Matched Categories

1. • Compound
   • Salt

How to pronounce alkali?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say alkali in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of alkali in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of alkali in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

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