alkali
Meaning of alkali: An alkali is a water soluble base capable of neutralizing acids, relevant in medicine to blood chemistry, chemical burns, and body pH balance.
Definition of alkali
An alkali is a chemical substance that dissolves in water, reacts with acids to form salts, and reduces acidity by accepting hydrogen ions. Alkalis typically taste bitter and feel slippery, and common examples include sodium hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate.
In the body, alkaline substances help regulate the acid base balance of blood and other fluids, a balance the body maintains within a narrow functional range through the lungs, kidneys, and various buffering chemicals in the blood. Bicarbonate is one of the body's principal internal alkaline buffers.
Outside the body, concentrated alkalis such as those found in some industrial and household cleaning products can cause a distinct type of chemical burn on contact with skin or mucous membranes, one that tends to penetrate tissue differently than a burn caused by a strong acid.
Used in a sentence
The material safety data sheet identified the spilled substance as a strong alkali.
Good to know
An alkali burn is generally considered more likely to penetrate deeply into tissue than an acid burn of similar strength, a distinction relevant to how a chemical exposure is evaluated.