glauber'ssalts
Definition
- Noun (plural, usually treated as singular):
- A crystalline salt used as a laxative: "Glauber's salts" refers to sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na₂SO₄·10H₂O), a colorless, effervescent crystalline compound. It is commonly employed as a purgative in medicine and in various industrial processes.
- A mineral substance: In mineralogy, "Glauber's salts" denotes the naturally occurring form of hydrated sodium sulfate, named after the German chemist Johann Rudolf Glauber.
Usage Examples
- Laxative use: (A medicinal salt that induces bowel movements.)
- Industrial application: (Sodium sulfate decahydrate serves as a raw material in these industries.)
- Historical context: (A historical reference to its medicinal popularity.)
Advanced Usage
"Glauber's salts" as a chemical term: In chemistry, the compound is specifically defined as sodium sulfate decahydrate, which effloresces (loses water) in dry air.
- The laboratory stored Glauber's salts in an airtight container to prevent dehydration. (To maintain its crystalline form.)
"Glauber's salts" in veterinary medicine: It is sometimes administered to livestock as a laxative.
- The farmer added Glauber's salts to the cattle's water to treat digestive issues. (Used for animal health.)
Variants and Related Words
- Glauberite (noun): A mineral composed of sodium and calcium sulfate, also named after Glauber.
- Geologists discovered glauberite deposits in the salt flats. (A related mineral compound.)
Synonyms
- Sodium sulfate decahydrate: The precise chemical name for Glauber's salts.
- Sal mirabile: An archaic term meaning "miraculous salt," used historically for this substance.
Related Idioms
- "As bitter as Glauber's salts": An old-fashioned simile meaning extremely unpleasant or disagreeable.
- The medicine tasted as bitter as Glauber's salts. (Referring to the unpleasant taste of the salt solution.)