al'kali

[Ar. al, the, + qally, soda-ash.] A strongly basic substance, alkaline in reaction, and capable of saponifying fats. a. albu'min, a derived albtmiin formed by the action of a weak alkali on native albumin; it is not coagulable by heat and is precipitated when the solution is carefully neutralized, a. pois'onlng, milk sickne in cattle; trembles; slows, car'bonated a., one of the carbonates of pota ium or sodium, caus'tic a., pota ium or sodium hydrate, or hydroxide. fixed a., lithium, pota ium, or sodium hydroxide, as distinguished from ammonium hydroxide, or volatile a. veg'etable a., (i) alkaloid; (2) a mixture of pota ium hydrate and pota ium carbonate. vol'atlle a,, ammonium hydroxide (ammonia) or ammonium carbonate.