hydroxide

American  

[hahy-drok-sahyd, -sid] / haɪˈdrɒk saɪd, -sɪd /

noun

1. a chemical compound containing the hydroxyl group.

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hydroxide British  

/ haɪˈdrɒksaɪd /

noun

1. a base or alkali containing the ion OH ^–

2. any compound containing an -OH group

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hydroxide Scientific  

/ hī-drŏk′sīd′ /

1. A chemical compound containing one or more hydroxyl radicals (OH). Inorganic hydroxides include hydroxides of metals, some of which, like sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and calcium hydroxide, are strong bases that are important industrial alkalis. Some metal hydroxides, such as those of zinc and lead, are amphoteric (they act like both acids and bases). Organic hydroxides include the alcohols.

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Etymology

Origin of hydroxide

First recorded in 1820–30; hydr- ² + oxide

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hydroxide

When exposed to air, the potassium hydroxide inside the beads reacts with CO2, producing hydrogen carbonate, a salt of carbonic acid.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 11, 2026

Spodumene has now tripled and hydroxide more than doubled since late June, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026

American Battery won a grant in 2022 to build and operate a manufacturing facility for battery cathode grade lithium hydroxide, a component in electric vehicles.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025

The additive releases hydroxide ions, which only need a small voltage difference to react with the injected hydrogen to form water.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 27, 2024

Lithium hydroxide was used to absorb the carbon dioxide in our exhaled breath.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins