alkaline

/'ælkəlain/

Thân thiện

Alkaline soil is ideal for growing certain types of vegetables.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having the properties of an alkali; basic: Describes a substance that has a pH greater than 7, is capable of neutralizing acids, and typically feels slippery to the touch.
   • Containing an alkali: Refers to a substance or solution that contains an alkali, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

Usage

• The term alkaline is used primarily in chemistry, biology, and environmental science to describe the pH level or chemical nature of a substance.
• It is the opposite of acidic. A neutral substance has a pH of 7.
• It is often used to describe soils, water, cleaning products, and bodily fluids.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Baking soda is an alkaline substance.
  • The lake's water became too alkaline to support most fish.
  • Some plants thrive in alkaline soils.

Advanced Usage

• "Alkaline earth metals": A group of chemical elements in the periodic table (e.g., calcium, magnesium) that form alkaline solutions when they react with water.
• "Alkaline battery": A type of primary battery that uses an alkaline electrolyte, typically potassium hydroxide.
• "Alkaline hydrolysis": A chemical process that uses an alkaline solution to break down organic materials.

Variants and Related Words

• Alkalinity (noun): The quantitative capacity of a solution to neutralize an acid; a measure of how alkaline a substance is.
  • The alkalinity of the water was tested.
• Alkalize (verb): To make a substance more alkaline.
  • The treatment aims to alkalize the patient's blood slightly.

Synonyms

• Basic (in chemistry)
• Caustic (when referring to strongly alkaline, corrosive substances)

Antonyms

• Acidic
• Acid

Related Phrases

• "Alkaline diet": A diet based on the theory that eating certain foods can affect the pH balance of the body, promoting a more alkaline state.
  • She follows an alkaline diet to improve her health.
• "Alkaline phosphatase": An enzyme found in several tissues throughout the body, with higher levels often indicating certain medical conditions.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. relating to or containing an alkali; having a pH greater than 7
   • alkaline soils derived from chalk or limestone

Từ đồng nghĩa

• alkalic