acidification

/'æsidifi'keiʃn/

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Word: Acidification

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Acidification is the process of becoming more acidic, which means that something is turning into an acid or has more acid in it. This can happen in different contexts, like in chemistry or in the environment.

Simple Explanation:

Imagine you have a glass of water. If you put lemon juice in it, the water becomes sour and more acidic. That change is similar to what we call acidification.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "acidification" when talking about changes in water, soil, or even food.
• It is often used in scientific discussions, especially when talking about environmental issues.

Example Sentence:

• "The acidification of the ocean is a big problem because it affects marine life and coral reefs."

Advanced Usage:

In environmental science, acidification often refers to the increase in acidity of oceans due to higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. This is an important topic in discussions about climate change.

Word Variants:

• Acidify (verb): To make something more acidic.
  • Example: "The factory's waste can acidify the local river."
• Acidic (adjective): Describing something that has a lot of acid or has a sour taste.
  • Example: "Lemon juice is very acidic."

Different Meaning:

While "acidification" primarily refers to the process of becoming more acidic, it can also be used in a broader sense in discussions about changes in chemistry or environmental conditions.

Synonyms:

• Sourness (in some contexts)
• Acidity (though acidity is more of a state rather than a process)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "acidification," but you might encounter phrases like "turning sour," which can metaphorically describe a situation going bad, similar to how something might become more acidic.

Summary:

Acidification is an important term, especially in science, related to how substances can become more sour or acidic.

Academic

Noun

1. the process of becoming acid or being converted into an acid