About
The character for alkali, "碱", originated from the traditional form "鹼" which semantically incorporated the "鹵" component representing salt or brine, indicative of the natural sources of alkaline substances, combined with the phonetic element "僉". Its simplified structure replaced "鹵" with the "石" radical to highlight mineral associations, while the phonetic was changed to "咸" (xián) for pronunciation. Initially denoting naturally occurring alkaline materials like potash or soda ash, the term's application later narrowed within scientific contexts to specifically define chemical bases that neutralize acids.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
小苏打是一种常见的碱。
碱可以用来清洁油污。
肥皂含有碱性成分。
土壤的酸碱度影响植物生长。
工业上常用碱来中和酸性废水。
碱金属包括钠、钾等元素。
这种碱液具有强腐蚀性，需谨慎处理。
在化学反应中，碱与酸生成盐和水。