cryolite

American  

[krahy-uh-lahyt] / ˈkraɪ əˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a mineral, sodium aluminum fluoride, Na 3 AlF 6 , occurring in white masses, used as a flux in the electrolytic production of aluminum.

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cryolite British  

/ ˈkraɪəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a white or colourless mineral consisting of a fluoride of sodium and aluminium in monoclinic crystalline form: used in the production of aluminium, glass, and enamel. Formula: Na 3 AlF 6

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Etymology

Origin of cryolite

First recorded in 1795–1805; cryo- + -lite

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cryolite

A pivotal moment in that championship bout came when Shin’s opponent played “kyrolite,” which is not legal, instead of “kryolite,” an alternate spelling of the mineral cryolite.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 1, 2022

The second largest use is in the manufacture of cryolite, Na3AlF6, which is important in the production of aluminum.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Heating the hydroxide produces aluminum oxide, Al2O3, which dissolves in a molten mixture of cryolite, Na3AlF6, and calcium fluoride, CaF2.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Finally he found that electrically melted cryolite, a mineral from Greenland, would dissolve the ore.

From Time Magazine Archive

The minerals bauxite and cryolite are sources of aluminium, but the chief source is the pure oxide, from which the metal is obtained by means of a strong electric current.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 1 A to Amide by Various