Lye is a base or not? What are its properties?

What is the acid or salt, the most well-known. It is difficult to find a person who was not holding a bottle of vinegar or used in the life of a food product without which almost any food seems bland and tasteless. But what is lye? This is the same as the base, or not? How is it different from acid? Similar issues could perplex anyone, but because we allow ourselves to refresh the knowledge that was obtained at school.

Alkali – what is it?

Let's Start with the fact that compounds of metals with water in chemistry called hydroxides. A substance of this type, formed by ammonium, alkali or alkaline earth metal, is called lye. In turn, the base – is the electrolyte, which, in addition to the hydroxide ion (Oh^-), no other anions. Thus, we can say that alkali-any soluble base. To form a hydroxide can only metals of subgroups Ia and IIa (those that come after calcium). Examples of such compounds can serve as a sodium alkali (formula NaOH), caustic bariat (Ba(OH)₂), potassium hydroxide (Koh), cesium hydroxide (CsOH), etc. they represent A solid white substance, which are characterized by high water absorption.

The Properties of alkalis

The Dissolution in water of these compounds is accompanied by considerable heat release. In the group Ia is the strongest alkali – cesium hydroxide and group IIa – radium hydroxide. An example of a weak connection of this type can serve as the ammonia and hydrated lime. Caustic alkali is able to dissolve in methanol and ethanol. In the solid state these substances absorb from the air as water and carbon dioxide gas and slowly turn into carbonates. The most important property of the alkali is that as a result of its reaction with acid forms a salt – this feature is very often used in industry. Through these connections can pass an electric current, and so they are often used as electrolytes. Get alkali using electrolysis of chlorides or through the interaction of oxides of alkali metals with water. The industry usually uses the first method and the second is used mostly for obtaining slaked lime. In the alkaline environment dissolves the fat and this property is widely used in the manufacture of soap. A number of reasons can destroy plant and animal tissue, irritate the skin and destroy clothes. Alkali can react with some metals (e.g. aluminium) and is able to protect the steel from corrosion. They are resistant to heat – sodium hydroxide can be melted and bring to a boil, but decompose it will not. This is very different from the alkali insoluble bases, some of which (for example, silver hydroxide) dissolves at room temperature. As well as acid, these substances require great care and have high requirements for compliance with security guidelines. To protect the eyes when working with lye usually wear glasses. To keep them is allowed only in special vessels – drinking containers that did not fit.