# alkali

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæl.kəˌlaɪ/ · frequency rank #31,053

## Definitions
1. One of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, soda ash, caustic soda, potash, ammonia, and lithia, whose distinguishing characteristics are dissolving 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.
2. Soluble mineral matter, other than common salt, contained in soils of natural waters.

## Etymology
From French alcali, from Medieval Latin alcali, ultimately from Arabic اَلْقِلْي (al-qily, “alkali, ashes of the saltwort”), related to قَلَى (qalā, “to roast in a pan, fry”).

## Easily confused with
- **alkyl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alkali-vs-alkyl)
- **Anjali** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alkali-vs-anjali)
- **alkaline** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alkali-vs-alkaline)
- **algal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/algal-vs-alkali)

## Common misspellings (8)
`aklali`, `alakli`, `alkail`, `alkalli`, `alkkali`, `alklai`, `allkali`, `lakali`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/alkali