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

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

The second largest use is in the manufacture of cryolite, Na3AlF6, which is important in the production of aluminum.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

There are only 274 Danes in the entire country and more than half of these work in the cryolite*; mines.

From Time Magazine Archive

Until the beginning of World War II a rather limited number of insecticides was available, such as lead arsenate, cryolite, nicotine, mineral oil emulsions, and rotenone.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 41st Annual Meeting Pleasant Valley, New York, August 28, 29 and 30, 1950 by Northern Nut Growers Association