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Alkali vs Basic - What's the difference?

alkali | basic |

As a noun alkali

is alkali.

As an adjective basic is

basic.

alkali

English

(wikipedia alkali)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (chemistry) 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.
  • Soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash, etc.
  • (Western United States) Soluble mineral matter, other than common salt, contained in soils of natural waters.

    • Synonyms

    * (chemistry) base

    Antonyms

    * (chemistry) acid

    Derived terms

    * alkaline * alkali metal

    Related terms

    * alkalied * alkaloid

    See also

    * caustic * pH ----

    basic

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Necessary, essential for life or some process.
    • Flour is a basic ingredient of bread.
  • Elementary, simple, fundamental, merely functional.
    • The Hotel Sparta’s accommodation is purely basic .
  • (chemistry) Of or pertaining to a base; having a pH greater than 7.
  • (slang) Vapid, boring, or uncool.
  • * 2011 , (Kreayshawn), "(Gucci Gucci)", (w, Somethin' 'Bout Kreay) :
    • Gucci Gucci, Louis Louis, Fendi Fendi, Prada / Them basic bitches wear that shit, so I don't even bother
  • * 2013 , Sam Stryker, " Why Does Everyone Hate Anne Hathaway?", The Observer (University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College), Volume 46, Issue 101, 1 March 2013, page 11:
    • I'm not saying people are jealous of Hathaway because she is so perfect. Yes, she does have it all — husband, healthy career, good looks. But she doesn't do anything in an "awesome" way. She's basic .
  • * 2014 , Trevor Thrall, " Firing Line: Rowling says ‘JK,’ Ron and Hermione not meant to be", The Daily Campus (Southern Methodist University), Volume 99, Issue 54, 3 February 2014, page 4:
    • And what can be said about Ginny? She’s basic . My guess is that she spends her time drinking pumpkin spice lattes and watching “Pretty Little Liars.” The Chosen One is way out of her quidditch league.
  • *

    • Synonyms

    * See also * (chemistry) alkaline

    Antonyms

    * (chemistry) acidic

    Derived terms

    * basically * BASIC

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A necessary commodity, a staple requirement.
    • Rice is a basic for many Asian villagers.
  • An elementary building block, e.g. a fundamental piece of knowledge.
    • Arithmetic is a basic for the study of mathematics.
  • (military) Basic training.

    • Anagrams

    * ----