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neutrophilic

neutrophilic

8.5
Living or growing best in places with a neutral pH around seven
  • adjective
  • /ˌnjuːtrəˈfɪlɪk/
  • Specialized
: neutrofílico
  • Certain bacteria are neutrophilic and will only grow in soils with a pH close to seven.

Examples

  • The laboratory identified the microorganism as neutrophilic because it thrived in neutral conditions.

  • Unlike acid-loving species, neutrophilic microbes cannot survive in highly acidic or alkaline environments.

  • The neutrophilic bacteria thrive in neutral environments.

  • In laboratory settings, neutrophilic species are often studied.

  • Certain bacteria are neutrophilic and will only grow in soils with a pH close to seven.

  • The laboratory identified the microorganism as neutrophilic because it thrived in neutral conditions.

  • Unlike acid-loving species, neutrophilic microbes cannot survive in highly acidic or alkaline environments.

How Acid-Loving

acidophilic
  • Specialized
1 9.5
neutrophilic
  • Specialized
8.5
alkaline-loving
  • Specialized
1 8.1

Surface Forms

neutrophilic positive

Morphology

neutrophilic = neutrophile (semi-transparent) = neutro + phil + ic

The base word 'neutrophile' is clear, but the specific scientific context may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Neutrophilic comes from neutro- 'neutral' and -philic 'loving', the same -philic you see in hydrophilic ('water-loving'). So a neutrophilic organism 'loves' neutral conditions and grows best around pH 7.