lime-water

A scientist adds a drop of indicator to a beaker of lime-water.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A solution of calcium hydroxide in water: "lime-water" is a clear, colorless, alkaline liquid made by dissolving slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) in water. It is used in various applications, including as a test for carbon dioxide (which turns it milky) and in medical or industrial contexts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The chemist prepared lime-water to test for the presence of carbon dioxide in the air. (A solution used to detect carbon dioxide.)
  • In traditional medicine, lime-water was sometimes used as an antacid for digestive issues. (A historical medicinal use of the solution.)
  • The farmer added lime-water to the soil to reduce its acidity. (An agricultural application of the solution.)

Advanced Usage

• "to test with lime-water": to use lime-water as a chemical indicator.

  • The student blew through a straw into a beaker of lime-water, and it turned milky, confirming the presence of carbon dioxide. (The lime-water reacted with carbon dioxide to form a white precipitate.)

• "lime-water bath": a process of soaking something in lime-water for preservation or treatment.

  • Eggs were traditionally stored in a lime-water bath to keep them fresh longer. (A method of preserving eggs by coating them with a protective layer.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lime (n): a white, caustic substance (calcium oxide) obtained from limestone, used in making mortar and cement.

  • The builder mixed lime with sand and water to create mortar. (Lime is a key ingredient in construction.)

• Lime (n): a citrus fruit (distinct from "lime" in lime-water).

  • She squeezed a lime into her drink for flavor. (A different meaning of the word "lime".)

Synonyms

• Calcium hydroxide solution: a precise chemical term for lime-water.
• Slaked lime solution: another name for lime-water, referring to the dissolved form of slaked lime.

Phrasal Verbs

• None directly applicable: "lime-water" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.

Related Idioms

• None directly applicable: "lime-water" is a technical term and does not appear in common idioms.