noun
alkali
AL-kuh-lye/ˈælkəlaɪ/
A substance that dissolves in water to form a basic solution that neutralizes acids.
The beaker contains an alkali solution beside a blue indicator strip.
Etymology
The name means “the burnt ashes,” originally referring to soda-rich saltwort ashes. It expanded from this particular material to similar substances, eventually acquiring its chemical sense of an acid-neutralizing base.
In context
how much base or basically alkali needs to be added to the sample to get it to a ph of 7.4
More examples
- Sodium hydroxide is a strong alkali.
- The indicator changed color when alkali was added.
- The solution contained enough alkali to become strongly basic.
Forms
alkali · alkalis · alkalies
Similar words
- base
- Base is the broader chemical category; an alkali is a base that forms an alkaline solution in water.
- antacid
- An antacid neutralizes stomach acid; alkali names a chemical category rather than a particular use.