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

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

Rocketing aluminum sales and war scares lately have boomed the cryolite trade.

From Time Magazine Archive

It is also associated with a group of kindred minerals, some of which are evidently products of alteration of the cryolite, known as pachnolite, thomsenolite, ralstonite, gearksutite, arksutite, &c.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various