In chemistry, an alkali (from Arabic: Al-Qaly القلي, القالي ) is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal element. Alkalis are best known for being base that dissolve in water. Bases are compounds with a pH greater than 7. The adjective alkaline is commonly used in English as a synonym for base, especially for soluble bases. This broad use of the term is likely to have come about because alkalis were the first bases known to obey the Arrhenius definition of a base and are still among the more common bases. Since Brønsted-Lowry acid-base theory, the term alkali in chemistry is normally restricted to those salts containing alkali and alkaline earth metal elements.

Etymology

The word "alkali" is derived from Arabic al qalīy = the calcined ashes, referring to the original source of alkaline substance. Ashes were used in conjunction with animal fat to produce soap, a process known as saponification.

Common properties

Alkalis are all Arrhenius bases, which form hydroxide ions (OH^-) when dissolved in water. Common properties of alkaline aqueous solutions include:

• Moderately-concentrated solutions (over 10⁻³ M) have a pH of 10 or greater. This means that they will turn phenolphthalein from colorless to pink.
• Concentrated solutions are caustic (causing chemical burns).
• Alkaline solutions are slippery or soapy to the touch, due to the saponification of the fatty acids on the surface of the skin.
• Alkalis are normally water soluble, although some like barium carbonate are only soluble when reacting with an acidic aqueous solution.
• Acids and alkalis are measured on a pH scale
• Alkalis are commonly found in household cleaners and toothpaste

Confusion between alkali and base

The terms "base" and "alkali" are often used interchangeably, particularly outside of a scientific context, but they do not have the same meaning. While all alkaline solutions are basic, not all bases are alkaline.The following are common mistakes:

• The phrase "measuring the alkalinity of soil" is incorrect since the property measured is actually the pH (base property).
• Calling bases that are not alkalis, such as ammonia, alkaline (ammonia is a base but not an alkali).

Also, not all salts formed by alkali metals are alkaline; this designation applies only to those salts that are basic. And while most electropositive metal oxides are basic, only the soluble alkali metal and alkaline earth metal oxides can be correctly called alkalis.

This definition of an alkali as a basic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal is the most common, based on dictionary definitions [198][199], however conflicting definitions of the term alkali do exist. These include:

• Any base that is water-soluble and forms hydroxide ions [200][201]. In chemistry, this is more accurately called an Arrhenius base.
• The solution of a base in water [202]. This would be an Arrhenius base in solution.

Salts

Most basic salts are alkali salts, of which common examples are:

• sodium hydroxide (often called "caustic soda")
• potassium hydroxide (commonly called "caustic potash")
• lye (generic term, for either of the previous two, or even for a mixture)
• calcium carbonate (sometimes called "free lime")
• magnesium hydroxide is an example of an atypical alkali since it has low solubility in water (although the dissolved portion is considered a strong base due to complete dissociation of its ions).

Alkaline soil

Soil with a pH value higher than 7.3 is normally referred to as alkaline. This soil property can occur naturally, due to the presence of alkali salts. Although some plants do prefer slightly basic soil (including vegetables like cabbage and fodder like buffalograss), most plants prefer a mildly acidic soil (pH between 6.0 and 6.8), and alkaline soils can cause problems.

Lakes

In alkali lakes (a type of salt lake), evaporation concentrates the naturally-occurring alkali salts, often forming a crust of mildly-basic salt across a large area.

Examples of alkali lakes:

• Redberry Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Tramping Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Mono lake, California, United States
• Summer Lake, Oregon, United States
• Alkali Lake, British Columbia and the adjoining reserves of the Alkali Lake Indian Band are named for a local Alkali Lake, which got its name from a large patch of alkali on the hillside above the lake, which is not itself alkali, although there are many in the Cariboo district and adjoining regions of the British Columbia Interior.

References

1. BCGNIS listing "Alkali Lake (community)"