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An alkali can also be defined as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a soluble base has a pH greater than 7.0. The adjective alkaline , and less often, alkalescent , is commonly used in English as a synonym for basic, especially for bases soluble in water.
Most alkali metals have many different applications. One of the best-known applications of the pure elements is the use of rubidium and caesium in atomic clocks, of which caesium atomic clocks form the basis of the second.
Alkali hydroxides are formed in the reaction between alkali metals and water. A typical school demonstration demonstrates what happens when a piece of an alkali metal is introduced to a bowl of water. A vigorous reaction occurs, producing hydrogen gas and the specific alkali hydroxide. For example, if sodium is the alkali metal:
The chloralkali process (also chlor-alkali and chlor alkali) is an industrial process for the electrolysis of sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions. It is the technology used to produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), [ 1 ] which are commodity chemicals required by industry.
Sodium hydroxide is used in the home as a type of drain openers to unblock clogged drains, usually in the form of a dry crystal or as a thick liquid gel. The alkali dissolves greases to produce water soluble products. It also hydrolyzes proteins, such as those found in hair, which may block water pipes.
The word lye most accurately refers to sodium hydroxide (NaOH), [citation needed] but historically has been conflated to include other alkali materials, most notably potassium hydroxide (KOH). In order to distinguish between the two, sodium hydroxide may be referred to as soda lye while potassium hydroxide may be referred to as potash lye.
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Barium is used in vacuum tubes as a getter to remove gases. [61] Barium sulfate has many uses in the petroleum industry, [4] [80] and other industries. [4] [61] [81] Radium has many former applications based on its radioactivity, but its use is no longer common because of the adverse health effects and long half-life.
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