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hydroxide

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

noun

  1. a chemical compound containing the hydroxyl group.


hydroxide British  
/ haɪˈdrɒksaɪd /

noun

  1. a base or alkali containing the ion OH –

  2. any compound containing an -OH group

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.


Etymology

Origin of hydroxide

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

During the reaction, sodium hydroxide captures carbon released from the plastics and converts it into solid sodium carbonate.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026

The Department of Energy terminates a grant for a battery cathode grade lithium hydroxide manufacturing facility.

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

A second possibility was that some of the chemical called lithium hydroxide had gotten into our eyes.

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

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