Etymology
The word "alkaline" comes from the Arabic word "al-qaliy", which means "the ashes of plants". This word was first used in the 13th century to describe a substance that was obtained by burning plants and that had the property of neutralizing acids.
Meaning
An alkaline substance is one that has a pH greater than 7. Alkaline substances are often described as "basic" or "caustic". Common alkaline substances include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and calcium hydroxide.
Origin
The use of alkaline substances dates back to ancient times. The Egyptians used alkaline substances to make soap and to clean their clothes. The Romans used alkaline substances to make glass and to tan leather. In the Middle Ages, alchemists used alkaline substances to extract metals from ores.
Today, alkaline substances are used in a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications. They are used to make paper, soap, glass, and detergents. They are also used in the food industry to make baking powder and to neutralize acids in food.
Etymology The term alkali is derived from the Arabic word القلي al qilī which
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