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

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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

White liquor is an alkaline chemical containing sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

Albemarle also said it would be idling the remaining operating train at its Kemerton lithium hydroxide processing plant in Western Australia.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026

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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