sodium hydroxide

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a white, deliquescent, water-soluble solid, NaOH, usually in the form of lumps, sticks, chips, or pellets, that upon solution in water generates heat: used chiefly in the manufacture of other chemicals, rayon, film, soap, as a laboratory reagent, and in medicine as a caustic.

sodium hydroxide

noun

1. a white deliquescent strongly alkaline solid used in the manufacture of rayon, paper, aluminium, soap, and sodium compounds. Formula: NaOH Also calledcaustic soda See also lye

sodium hydroxide

1. A white, corrosive, solid compound that absorbs water and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and forms lye when in solution. Sodium hydroxide is toxic and strongly alkaline and is used to make chemicals and soaps and to refine petroleum. Chemical formula: NaOH.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sodium hydroxide¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

In the next stage, the pulp is treated with a number of chemicals, including carbon disulphide, to make it soluble in sodium hydroxide.

From Science Daily

Monday in the area of Low Line and Magnolia roads in Morgan County and the nine derailed cars contained dry cement, calcium chloride and sodium hydroxide, according to CSX and county officials.

From Seattle Times

The Met's Cdr Jon Savell said a laboratory analysis of the substance from the attack site found it was a "very strong concentrated corrosive substance, either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate".

From BBC

He is leading a project to study the effects of pouring tons of alkaline sodium hydroxide into the ocean off the New England coast.

From Science Magazine

In UPM's new mill the wood is chipped, then boiled with sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphide at high pressure.

From BBC