Alkali

[aV-ka-li) [Arab., al-qali, soda-ash]. The term includes the hydrated oxids of the alkali metals; these are electro-positive, are strong bases, uniting with acids to form salts, turn red litmus blue, and saponify fats. A., Caustic, the solid hydroxid of pota ium or sodium. A., Fixed, pota ium or sodium hydrate. A. Metals, sodium, pota ium, lithium, cesium, and rubidium. A., Volatile, ammonium hydrate, which is decomposed by heat with the evolution of ammonia. 43