spirits of ammonia

Thân thiện

A pharmacist hands a small bottle of spirits of ammonia to a customer.

Definition

Noun: 1. A medicinal preparation: A solution containing ammonium carbonate dissolved in a mixture of ammonia water and alcohol, historically used as a stimulant or restorative, especially to revive someone feeling faint.

Usage Notes

• This term refers to a specific, compounded medicinal solution. It is not a general term for ammonia.
• Its primary historical use was as a smelling salt or restorative. The fumes were inhaled to stimulate consciousness.
• In modern contexts, it is considered an archaic or historical term for a specific pharmaceutical preparation.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The Victorian-era doctor recommended spirits of ammonia for her bouts of dizziness.
  • In the old first aid kit, we found a vial labeled spirits of ammonia.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often found in historical texts, period literature, or descriptions of antique medical practices.

Variants and Related Words

• Aromatic ammonia spirit (n): A more modern pharmaceutical name for a similar preparation, often used as a respiratory stimulant.
• Smelling salts (n): A common term for preparations (including spirits of ammonia) used to provoke inhalation to restore consciousness.

Synonyms

• Smelling salts
• Aromatic spirit of ammonia (technical variant)

Notes on Different Meanings

• Spirits of ammonia is a fixed noun phrase with one specific meaning. It should not be confused with general household ammonia (ammonium hydroxide), which is a different chemical solution used for cleaning.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a solution of ammonium carbonate in ammonia water and alcohol

Từ đồng nghĩa

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