Part 178

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.

Fixed alkalies, potash and soda. -- Vegetable alkalies. Same as Alkaloids. -- Volatile alkali, ammonia, so called in distinction from the fixed alkalies.

Al"ka*li*fi`a*ble (&?;), a. [Cf. F. alcalifiable.] Capable of being alkalified, or converted into an alkali.

Al"ka*li*fy (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alkalified (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Alkalifying.] [Alkali + -fly: cf. F. alcalifier.] To convert into an alkali; to give alkaline properties to.

Al"ka*li*fy, v. i. To become changed into an alkali.

Al`ka*lim"e*ter (&?;), n. [Alkali + -meter. cf. F. alcalimètre.] An instrument to ascertain the strength of alkalies, or the quantity of alkali in a mixture.

{ Al`ka*li*met"ric (&?;), Al`ka*li*met"ric*al (&?;), } a. Of or pertaining to alkalimetry.

Al`ka*lim"e*try (&?;), n. [Cf. F. alcalimètrie.] (Chem.) The art or process of ascertaining the strength of alkalies, or the quantity present in alkaline mixtures.

Al"ka*line (?; 277), a. [Cf. F. alcalin.] Of or pertaining to an alkali or to alkalies; having the properties of an alkali.

Alkaline earths, certain substances, as lime, baryta, strontia, and magnesia, possessing some of the qualities of alkalies. -- Alkaline metals, potassium, sodium, cæsium, lithium, rubidium. -- Alkaline reaction, a reaction indicating alkalinity, as by the action on limits, turmeric, etc.

Al`ka*lin"i*ty (&?;), n. The quality which constitutes an alkali; alkaline property. Thomson.

Al*ka"li*ous (&?;), a. Alkaline. [Obs.]

Al"ka*li*zate (&?;), a. Alkaline. [Obs.] Boyle.

Al"ka*li**zate (&?;), v. t. To alkalizate. [R.] Johnson.

Al`ka*li*za"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. F. alcalisation.] The act rendering alkaline by impregnating with an alkali; a conferring of alkaline qualities.

Al"ka*lize (l"k*lz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alkalized (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Alkalizing (&?;).] [Cf. F. alcaliser.] To render alkaline; to communicate the properties of an alkali to.

{ Al"ka*loid (l"k*loid), Al`ka*loid"al (l`k*loid"al), } a. [Alkali + -oid: cf. F. alcaloïde.] Pertaining to, resembling, or containing, alkali.

Al"ka*loid (l"k*loid), n. (Chem.) An organic base, especially one of a class of substances occurring ready formed in the tissues of plants and the bodies of animals.

Alkaloids all contain nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen, and many of them also contain oxygen. They include many of the active principles in plants; thus, morphine and narcotine are alkaloids found in opium.

Al"ka*net (&?;), n. [Dim. of Sp. alcana, alheña, in which al is the Ar. article. See Henna, and cf. Orchanet.] 1. (Chem.) A dyeing matter extracted from the roots of Alkanna tinctoria, which gives a fine deep red color.

2. (Bot.) (a) A boraginaceous herb (Alkanna tinctoria) yielding the dye; orchanet. (b) The similar plant Anchusa officinalis; bugloss; also, the American puccoon.

Al*kar"gen (&?;), n. [Alkarsin + oxygen.] (Chem.) Same as Cacodylic acid.

Al*kar"sin (&?;), n. [Alkali + arsenic + -in.] (Chem.) A spontaneously inflammable liquid, having a repulsive odor, and consisting of cacodyl and its oxidation products; -- called also Cadel's fuming liquid.

Al*ka"zar (&?;). See Alcazar.

Al`ke*ken"gi (&?;), n. [Cf. F. alkékenge, Sp. alquequenje, ultimately fr. Ar. al- kkanj a kind of resin from Herat.] (Bot.) An herbaceous plant of the nightshade family (Physalis alkekengi) and its fruit, which is a well flavored berry, the size of a cherry, loosely inclosed in a enlarged leafy calyx; -- also called winter cherry, ground cherry, and strawberry tomato. D. C. Eaton.

Al*ker"mes (&?;), n. [Ar. al-qirmiz kermes. See Kermes.] (Old Pharmacy) A compound cordial, in the form of a confection, deriving its name from the kermes insect, its principal ingredient.

Al"ko*ran (?; 277), n. The Mohammedan Scriptures. Same as Alcoran and Koran.

Al`ko*ran"ic (&?;), a. Same as Alcoranic.