hydrolith
Definition
Noun: 1. A chemical compound: Specifically, a binary, salt-like inorganic compound with the chemical formula CaH₂. It is primarily used as a powerful reducing agent in chemical processes and as a portable, solid source of hydrogen gas.
Usage
- Hydrolith is a technical term used almost exclusively in chemistry and industrial contexts. It refers to the specific compound calcium hydride.
- It functions as a noun, typically as the subject or object in a sentence describing a chemical reaction or process.
Examples
- The laboratory used hydrolith to dry organic solvents by reacting with any trace water.
- When hydrolith comes into contact with water, it produces hydrogen gas.
- For the synthesis, we needed a strong reducing agent, so we chose hydrolith.
Advanced Usage
- As a desiccant: In advanced laboratory work, hydrolith is valued not just as a hydrogen source but as an extremely effective drying agent for gases and solvents.
- In metallurgy: Hydrolith can be used to reduce metal oxides to their pure metallic forms at high temperatures.
Variants and Related Words
- Calcium hydride: This is the systematic IUPAC name and a direct synonym for hydrolith. It is the more commonly used term in modern scientific literature.
- Reducing agent: A general term for a substance that donates electrons in a chemical reaction; this describes one of the primary functions of hydrolith.
- Desiccant: A substance that absorbs moisture; this describes another key use of hydrolith.
Synonyms
- Calcium hydride (n): The systematic chemical name; interchangeable with hydrolith.
- CaH₂ (n): The chemical formula, used as shorthand in equations and technical notes.
Notes on Meaning
- The term hydrolith is largely historical or specialized. In most contemporary chemistry texts and discussions, the compound is referred to by its systematic name, calcium hydride.
- Its defining characteristics are its composition (calcium and hydrogen), its ionic, salt-like structure, and its vigorous, exothermic reaction with water to yield hydrogen gas (H₂).
Noun
-
a saltlike binary compound (CaH2) used as a reducing agent and source of hydrogen
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