Alkalies

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Alkali \Al"ka*li\ (?; 277), n.; pl. {Alkalis} or {Alkalies}. [F.
     alcali, ultimately fr. Ar. alqal[imac] ashes of the plant
     saltwort, fr. qalay to roast in a pan, fry.]
     1. Soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash, etc.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. (Chem.) One of a class of caustic bases, such as soda,
        potash, ammonia, and lithia, whose distinguishing
        peculiarities are solubility in alcohol and water, uniting
        with oils and fats to form soap, neutralizing and forming
        salts with acids, turning to brown several vegetable
        yellows, and changing reddened litmus to blue.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Soluble mineral matter, other than common salt, contained
        in soils of natural waters. [Western U. S.]
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     {Fixed alkalies}, potash and soda.
  
     {Vegetable alkalies}. Same as {Alkaloids}.
  
     {Volatile alkali}, ammonia, so called in distinction from the
        fixed alkalies.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  alkali
       n 1: any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning
            litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and
            water; "bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals
            and ammonia" [syn: {base}]
       2: a mixture of soluble salts found in arid soils and some
          bodies of water; detrimental to agriculture
       [also: {alkalies} (pl)]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  alkalies
       See {alkali}