white vitriol
- noun
- /waɪt ˈvɪtriəl/
- Archaic
:
vitriolo blanco
- White vitriol is commonly used in the process of electroplating to deposit zinc on metal surfaces.
Examples
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They treated the wood with white vitriol to help protect it from decay.
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The laboratory technician measured a small amount of white vitriol for the experiment.
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The chemist used white vitriol to treat the wood.
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Many artists prefer white vitriol for its properties.
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White vitriol is commonly used in the process of electroplating to deposit zinc on metal surfaces.
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The laboratory technician measured a small amount of white vitriol for the experiment.
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They treated the wood with white vitriol to help protect it from decay.
Synonyms
A white powder that dissolves in water and helps dye stick to cloth, protect wood, or coat metal
A colorless powder that dissolves in water and is used to dye cloth, protect wood, and plate metal
Surface Forms
Morphology
white + vitriol
The phrase is compositionally 'white' (color) + 'vitriol' (a type of chemical), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a white form of a vitriol (i.e., a chemical/crystalline substance). However, 'vitriol' is a specialized/archaic term and the specific identity 'zinc sulfate' is not predictable from the parts, so full meaning requires prior technical knowledge.
Etymology
White vitriol comes from old chemistry: people called glassy salt crystals vitriol and used the color word white for the colorless zinc kind. So, picture small white, glass-like crystals — that image helps you remember it is the colorless zinc salt used to protect wood and to add a thin layer of zinc to metal.
