alkali

American  

[al-kuh-lahy] / ˈæl kəˌlaɪ /

noun

alkalis, plural alkalies plural

1. Chemistry.

   1. any of various bases, the hydroxides of the alkali metals and of ammonium, that neutralize acids to form salts and turn red litmus paper blue.

   2. any of various other more or less active bases, as calcium hydroxide.

   3. (not in technical use) an alkali metal.

   4. Obsolete. any of various other compounds, as the carbonates of sodium and potassium.

2. Agriculture. a soluble mineral salt or a mixture of soluble salts, present in some soils, especially in arid regions, and detrimental to the growing of most crops.

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adjective

1. Chemistry. alkaline.

alkali British  

/ ˈælkəˌlaɪ /

noun

1. chem a soluble base or a solution of a base

2. a soluble mineral salt that occurs in arid soils and some natural waters

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alkali Scientific  

/ ăl′kə-lī′ /

alkalis plural

1. A hydroxide of an alkali metal. The aqueous solution of alkalis is bitter, slippery, caustic, and characteristically basic in reactions.

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alkali Cultural  

1. A bitter, caustic mineral often found in large beds in the desert. Alkalis are bases; two common examples are lye and ammonia.

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Discover More

Plants have difficulty growing in soil that is rich in alkalis.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• alkalies
  plural
• alkalis
  plural

Etymology

Origin of alkali

1300–50; Middle English alkaly < Middle French alcali < dialectal Arabic al-qalī, variant of Arabic qily saltwort ashes

Example Sentences

Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba ordered an investigation into the incident.

From Seattle Times • May 15, 2023

Police chief Usman Alkali Baba had ordered his detention on Saturday.

From BBC • May 15, 2023

Both Mr. Omotoso and the inspector general of police, Usman Alkali Baba, said that anyone found liable would face prosecution.

From New York Times • Nov. 2, 2021

Alkali metal oxides result from the oxidation-reduction reactions created by heating nitrates or hydroxides with the metals.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The Alkali Temperament exists where lymph is in excess over arterial blood.

From How to Become Rich A Treatise on Phrenology, Choice of Professions and Matrimony by Windsor, William