Hypertext Webster Gateway: "alkali"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Alkali \Al"ka*li\, n.
Soluble mineral matter, other than common salt, contained in
soils of natural waters. [Western U. S.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Alkali \Al"ka*li\ (?; 277), n.; pl. {Alkalis} or {Alkalies}. [F.
alcali, ultimately fr. Ar. alqal[=i] ashes of the plant
saltwort, fr. qalay to roast in a pan, fry.]
1. Soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash, etc.
2. (Chem.) 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.
{Fixed alkalies}, potash and soda.
{Vegetable alkalies}. Same as {Alkaloids}.
{Volatile alkali}, ammonia, so called in distinction from the
fixed alkalies.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
alkali
n 1: 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" [syn: {base}]
2: a mixture of soluble salts found in arid soils and some
bodies of water; detrimental to agriculture
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