zeolite

[ zee-uh-lahyt ]

noun

, Mineralogy.

1. any of a group of hydrated silicates of aluminum with alkali metals, commonly occurring as secondary minerals in cavities in basic volcanic rocks: used for their molecular sieve properties because they undergo dehydration with little or no change in crystal structure.

zeolite

/ ˈziːəˌlaɪt; ˌziːəˈlɪtɪk /

noun

1. any of a large group of glassy secondary minerals consisting of hydrated aluminium silicates of calcium, sodium, or potassium: formed in cavities in lava flows and plutonic rocks
2. any of a class of similar synthetic materials used in ion exchange and as selective absorbents See molecular sieve

zeolite

/ zē′ə-līt′ /

1. Any of a family of hydrous aluminum silicate minerals, whose molecules enclose cations of sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, or barium. Zeolites are usually white or colorless, but they can also be red or yellow. They are characterized by their easy and reversible loss of water of hydration. They usually occur within cavities in basalt.

Derived Forms

• zeolitic, adjective

Other Words From

• ze·o·lit·ic [zee-, uh, -, lit, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeolite¹

1770–80; < Greek ze ( în ) to boil + -o- + -lite

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeolite¹

c18: zeo-, from Greek zein to boil + -lite ; from the swelling up that occurs under the blowpipe

Example Sentences

These synthetic porous materials of interest to chemists specializing in selective encapsulation include such buzzwords as metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks, and zeolites.

From Science Daily

Zeolites can become amorphous when subjected to electron beam irradiation, but that damage is related to the composition of the zeolite, and the team found that some pollucite inclusions were stable in the electron beam.

From Science Daily

A sediment core from one of Tikal's reservoirs also found that zeolite sand had been used in its construction.

From Science Daily

But zeolite, a simple mineral with hitherto unknown hemostatic properties, saves their bacon every time.

From New York Times

Lead cleanup: The Prospering Backyards project is treating yards in southeast Los Angeles County contaminated by a former battery recycling plant with zeolite, a porous, lead-trapping mineral, The Los Angeles Times reports.

From New York Times