{Sodium amalgam}, an alloy of sodium and mercury, usually
produced as a gray metallic crystalline substance, which
is used as a reducing agent, and otherwise.
{Sodium bicarbonate}, a white crystalline substance,
{HNaCO3}, with a slight alkaline taste resembling that of
sodium carbonate. It is found in many mineral springs and
also produced artificially,. It is used in cookery, in
baking powders, and as a source of carbonic acid gas
(carbon dioxide) for soda water. Called also {cooking
soda}, {saleratus}, and technically, {acid sodium
carbonate}, {primary sodium carbonate}, {sodium
dicarbonate}, etc.
{Sodium carbonate}, a white crystalline substance,
{Na2CO3.10H2O}, having a cooling alkaline taste, found in
the ashes of many plants, and produced artifically in
large quantities from common salt. It is used in making
soap, glass, paper, etc., and as alkaline agent in many
chemical industries. Called also {sal soda}, {washing
soda}, or {soda}. Cf. {Sodium bicarbonate}, above and
{Trona}.
{Sodium chloride}, common, or table, salt, {NaCl}.
{Sodium hydroxide}, a white opaque brittle solid, {NaOH},
having a fibrous structure, produced by the action of
quicklime, or of calcium hydrate (milk of lime), on sodium
carbonate. It is a strong alkali, and is used in the
manufacture of soap, in making wood pulp for paper, etc.
Called also {sodium hydrate}, and {caustic soda}. By
extension, a solution of sodium hydroxide.
2. (Chem.) Containing, or consisting of, three different
parts, as elements, atoms, groups, or radicals, which are
regarded as having different functions or relations in the
molecule; thus, sodic hydroxide, {NaOH}, is a ternary
compound.
2. Severe; satirical; sharp; as, a caustic remark.
{Caustic curve} (Optics), a curve to which the ray of light,
reflected or refracted by another curve, are tangents, the
reflecting or refracting curve and the luminous point
being in one plane.
{Caustic lime}. See under {Lime}.
{Caustic potash}, {Caustic soda} (Chem.), the solid
hydroxides potash, {KOH}, and soda, {NaOH}, or solutions
of the same.
{Caustic silver}, nitrate of silver, lunar caustic.
{Caustic surface} (Optics), a surface to which rays reflected
or refracted by another surface are tangents. Caustic
curves and surfaces are called catacaustic when formed by
reflection, and diacaustic when formed by refraction.
Syn: Stinging; cutting; pungent; searching.