caustic soda
1
6.1
- noun
- /ˈkɔːstɪk ˈsoʊdə/
- UK
:
soda cáustica
- The machine automatically adjusts the pH count by adding caustic soda if it is too low (acidic) or sulfuric acid if it is too high (alkaline).
- caustic soda and water
Examples
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The factory uses caustic soda to adjust the pH levels of the chemical mixtures.
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Apparently, I inhaled caustic soda.
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Caustic soda, hot water, and steam are introduced to the oil sand, which is rotated to aerate the mixture.
Academic text (1998) -
Of the patients with gastrointestinal symptoms from exposure to the caustic soda water, approximately 28 percent were diagnosed with gastritis or enteritis.
Academic text (1998) -
This system takes the crushed oil sand excavated by auxiliary production and sends it to a cyclofeeder, where it is mixed with caustic soda and water.
Academic text (1998) -
Caustic soda is commonly used in the manufacturing of caustic soda and detergents.
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When making paper, caustic soda helps to break down wood fibers into pulp.
Synonyms
1
5.4
A strong white chemical people use to make soap and paper that can burn your skin
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: 'caustic' (corrosive, burning) combined with 'soda' (an alkaline chemical) yields the sense of a corrosive alkaline substance. This nomenclature mirrors common chemical naming across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer the MWE's general meaning (even if they may not know the exact chemical formula).
Etymology
Caustic soda comes from the words caustic, which meant 'to burn', and soda, an old name for sodium chemicals. Because the substance really can 'burn' skin and fabrics, the name became an easy way to talk about the very strong chemical used for cleaning and making soap.