sal volatile

American  

[sal voh-lat-l-ee] / ˈsæl voʊˈlæt lˌi /

noun

1. an aromatic alcoholic solution of ammonium carbonate, the chief ingredient in smelling salts.

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sal volatile British  

/ vɒˈlætɪlɪ /

noun

1. another name for ammonium carbonate

2. Also called: spirits of ammonia.   hartshorn.  a solution of ammonium carbonate in alcohol and aqueous ammonia, often containing aromatic oils, used as smelling salts

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Etymology

Origin of sal volatile

1645–55; < New Latin: volatile salt

Example Sentences

AI-related semiconductor stocks are highly volatile, with the VanEck Semiconductor ETF up 10% from its early June low but experiencing daily swings over 1%.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

“For a vessel that’s carrying tens of millions of gallons of crude oil, which is highly volatile, there’s always a risk of fire explosion,” Tama said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

“This is highly volatile, it’s highly toxic, it’s highly flammable,” said Craig Covey, a division chief with the Orange County Fire Authority and the incident commander.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

Firecracker factory accidents are common in India because highly volatile chemicals are handled in cramped, low-cost setups where even a small spark can trigger explosions.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

"Will to-morrow at daybreak do equally as well?" asked Sir Reginald, knowing the difficulty and possible danger of handling quantities of the highly volatile spirit in the dark.

From The Airship "Golden Hind" by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)