Alkali: Difference between revisions
m Reverted edits by 106.215.187.252 (talk) to last version by Gilliam |
The page said mgOH2 was not included in the group that releases hydroxide ions, when in fact it does, it releases two hence the OH2 in the chemical. OH is a hydroxide ion. |
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There are various definitions for the concept of an alkali. Alkalis are sometimes defined as a subset of the bases. However, two subsets are commonly chosen. |
There are various definitions for the concept of an alkali. Alkalis are sometimes defined as a subset of the bases. However, two subsets are commonly chosen. |
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* A basic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=alkali Alkali | Define Alkali at Dictionary.com]. Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.</ref> (This includes Mg(OH)<sub>2</sub> but excludes NH<sub>3</sub>.) |
* A basic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=alkali Alkali | Define Alkali at Dictionary.com]. Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.</ref> (This includes Mg(OH)<sub>2</sub> but excludes NH<sub>3</sub>.) |
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* Any base that is soluble in water and forms hydroxide ions<ref>[http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0029936.html alkali]. Tiscali.co.uk. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.</ref><ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/alkali alkali – definition of alkali by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia]. Thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20061124183909/http://www.wahyan.edu.hk/paulsir/handout/form4/4-05_Characteriscs_of_alkali.pdf Characteristics of Alkali]. (from L.H.M. Chung ''Integrated Chemistry Today'' pp. 363–365)</ref> or the solution of a base in water.<ref>[http://www.krysstal.com/acidbase.html Acids, Bases and Salts]. KryssTal. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.</ref> (This |
* Any base that is soluble in water and forms hydroxide ions<ref>[http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0029936.html alkali]. Tiscali.co.uk. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.</ref><ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/alkali alkali – definition of alkali by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia]. Thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20061124183909/http://www.wahyan.edu.hk/paulsir/handout/form4/4-05_Characteriscs_of_alkali.pdf Characteristics of Alkali]. (from L.H.M. Chung ''Integrated Chemistry Today'' pp. 363–365)</ref> or the solution of a base in water.<ref>[http://www.krysstal.com/acidbase.html Acids, Bases and Salts]. KryssTal. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.</ref> (This includes Mg(OH)<sub>2</sub> and NH<sub>3</sub>.) |
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The second subset of bases is also called an "Arrhenius base". |
The second subset of bases is also called an "Arrhenius base". |
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Revision as of 08:34, 10 January 2015
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2008) |
In chemistry, an alkali (/ˈælkəlaɪ/; from Arabic: al-qaly القلي, القالي , “ashes of the saltwort”) is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal chemical element. Some authors[who?] also define an alkali as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a soluble base has a pH greater than 7.0. The adjective alkaline is commonly, and alkalescent less often, used in English as a synonym for basic, especially for soluble bases. This broad use of the term is likely to have come about because alkalis were the first bases known to obey the Arrhenius definition of a base, and they are still among the most common bases.
Etymology
The word "alkali" is derived from Arabic al qalīy (or alkali),[1] meaning the calcined ashes (see calcination), referring to the original source of alkaline substances. A water-extract of burned plant ashes, called potash and composed mostly of potassium carbonate, was mildly basic. After heating this substance with calcium hydroxide (slaked lime), a far more strongly basic substance known as caustic potash (potassium hydroxide) was produced. Caustic potash was traditionally used in conjunction with animal fats to produce soft soaps, one of the caustic processes that rendered soaps from fats in the process of saponification, one known since antiquity. Plant potash lent the name to the element potassium, which was first derived from caustic potash, and also gave potassium its chemical symbol K (from the German name Kalium), which ultimately derived from alkali.
Common properties
Alkalis are all Arrhenius bases, ones which form hydroxide ions (OH-) when dissolved in water. Common properties of alkaline aqueous solutions include:
- Moderately concentrated solutions (over 10−3 M) have a pH of 7.1 or greater. This means that they will turn phenolphthalein from colorless to pink.
- Concentrated solutions are caustic (causing chemical burns).
- Alkaline solutions are slippery or soapy to the touch, due to the saponification of the fatty substances on the surface of the skin.
- Alkalis are normally water soluble, although some like barium carbonate are only soluble when reacting with an acidic aqueous solution.
Difference between alkali and base
The terms "base" and "alkali" are often used interchangeably, particularly outside of the context of chemistry and chemical engineering.
There are various definitions for the concept of an alkali. Alkalis are sometimes defined as a subset of the bases. However, two subsets are commonly chosen.
- A basic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal[2] (This includes Mg(OH)2 but excludes NH3.)
- Any base that is soluble in water and forms hydroxide ions[3][4][5] or the solution of a base in water.[6] (This includes Mg(OH)2 and NH3.)
The second subset of bases is also called an "Arrhenius base".
Alkali salts
Alkali salts are soluble hydroxides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, of which common examples are:
- Sodium hydroxide - often called "caustic soda"
- Potassium hydroxide - commonly called "caustic potash"
- Lye - generic term for either of the previous two or even for a mixture
- Calcium hydroxide - saturated solution known as "limewater"
- Magnesium hydroxide - an atypical alkali since it has low solubility in water (although the dissolved portion is considered a strong base due to complete dissociation of its ions)
Alkaline soil
Soils with pH values higher than 7.3 are usually defined as being alkaline. These soils can occur naturally, due to the presence of alkali salts. Although some plants do prefer slightly basic soil (including vegetables like cabbage and fodder like buffalograss), most plants prefer a mildly acidic soil (with pHs between 6.0 and 6.8), and alkaline soils can cause problems.[7]
Alkali lakes
In alkali lakes (or soda lakes), evaporation concentrates the naturally occurring carbonate salts, giving rise to an alkalic and often saline lake.
Examples of alkali lakes:
- Alkali Lake, Lake County, Oregon
- Baldwin Lake, San Bernardino County, California
- Mono lake, near Owens Valley in California
- Redberry Lake, Saskatchewan
- Summer Lake, Lake County, Oregon
- Tramping Lake, Saskatchewan
- Lake Magadi in Kenya
- Lake Turkana in Kenya (the largest alkali lake in the world)
- There are also alkali lakes in the outback of Australia.
See also
References
- ^ Chambers's encyclopaedia: a dictionary of universal knowledge, Volume 1. J.B. Lippincott & Co. 1888. p. 148.
- ^ Alkali | Define Alkali at Dictionary.com. Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.
- ^ alkali. Tiscali.co.uk. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.
- ^ alkali – definition of alkali by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia. Thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.
- ^ Characteristics of Alkali. (from L.H.M. Chung Integrated Chemistry Today pp. 363–365)
- ^ Acids, Bases and Salts. KryssTal. Retrieved on 2012-04-18.
- ^ Chambers's encyclopaedia: a dictionary of universal knowledge, Volume 1. J.B. Lippincott & Co. 1888. p. 148.