Alkaline

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈæl.kəl.aɪn/

Definitions

1. Having a pH greater than 7, characterized by properties that neutralize acids and often feel slippery to the touch
2. Relating to a substance that has a pH level above neutral, possessing qualities that can neutralize acid and typically exhibiting a slippery texture when handled
3. Describing a chemical property marked by a pH exceeding 7 that can counteract acidity and feels slick upon contact

Etymology: The most striking thing about "alkaline" is that its ancestor named a plant, not a chemical. Arabic "al-qily" referred to the ashes of saltwort, a salt-rich desert plant that was burned to produce a crude substance used for cleaning and making glass. The Arabic word is related to "qalā", meaning "to roast in a pan or fry", a nod to the scorching process that turned plant matter into ash. The term passed into European languages through medieval trade and alchemy, and English took it up as "alkali" for these ashy, soapy, caustic substances. By 1677, English writers had attached the suffix "-ine" to it, producing "alkaline" as an adjective for anything with the properties of an alkali. The suffix "-ine" is a common adjective-forming ending, seen in words like "marine" and "feminine", so "alkaline" is essentially "alkali" reshaped to describe a quality. The chemistry behind the word came later, but the core idea of a substance that neutralizes acid still traces back to those burning desert plants.

Synonyms: basic, caustic, soda-like, alkalescent, alkali

Antonyms: acidic, sour, tart, sharp, astringent