volatile alkali

3 definitions found

volatile alkali - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Volatile \Vol"a*tile\, a. [F. volatil, L. volatilis, fr. volare
     to fly, perhaps akin to velox swift, E. velocity. Cf.
     Volley.]
     1. Passing through the air on wings, or by the buoyant force
        of the atmosphere; flying; having the power to fly. [Obs.]
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     2. Capable of wasting away, or of easily passing into the
        aeriform state; subject to evaporation.
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     Note: Substances which affect the smell with pungent or
           fragrant odors, as musk, hartshorn, and essential oils,
           are called volatile substances, because they waste away
           on exposure to the atmosphere. Alcohol and ether are
           called volatile liquids for a similar reason, and
           because they easily pass into the state of vapor on the
           application of heat. On the contrary, gold is a fixed
           substance, because it does not suffer waste, even when
           exposed to the heat of a furnace; and oils are called
           fixed when they do not evaporate on simple exposure to
           the atmosphere.
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     3. Fig.: Light-hearted; easily affected by circumstances;
        airy; lively; hence, changeable; fickle; as, a volatile
        temper.
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              You are as giddy and volatile as ever. --Swift.
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     Volatile alkali. (Old Chem.) See under Alkali.
  
     Volatile liniment, a liniment composed of sweet oil and
        ammonia, so called from the readiness with which the
        latter evaporates.
  
     Volatile oils. (Chem.) See Essential oils, under
        Essential.
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  Alkali \Al"ka*li\ (?; 277), n.; pl. Alkalis or Alkalies. [F.
     alcali, ultimately fr. Ar. alqal[imac] ashes of the plant
     saltwort, fr. qalay to roast in a pan, fry.]
     1. Soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash, etc.
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     2. (Chem.) One of a class of caustic bases, such as soda,
        potash, ammonia, and lithia, whose distinguishing
        peculiarities are solubility in alcohol and water, uniting
        with oils and fats to form soap, neutralizing and forming
        salts with acids, turning to brown several vegetable
        yellows, and changing reddened litmus to blue.
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     3. Soluble mineral matter, other than common salt, contained
        in soils of natural waters. [Western U. S.]
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     Fixed alkalies, potash and soda.
  
     Vegetable alkalies. Same as Alkaloids.
  
     Volatile alkali, ammonia, so called in distinction from the
        fixed alkalies.
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  ammonia \am*mo"ni*a\ ([a^]m*m[=o]"n[i^]*[.a]), n. [From sal
     ammoniac, which was first obtaining near the temple of
     Jupiter Ammon, by burning camel's dung. See Ammoniac.]
     (Chem.)
     A gaseous compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, NH3, with a
     pungent smell and taste: -- often called volatile alkali,
     and spirits of hartshorn. It is very soluble in water,
     forming a moderately alkaline solution, and is used in
     aqueous solution as a household cleaning agent, such as for
     cleaning grease from glass.
     [1913 Webster + PJC] Ammoniac