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What is the linguistic origin of the terms alkali or alkaline?
I'm interested in the linguistic origin of the terms alkali or alkaline. Can you tell me more about it?
Sure! The word "alkaline" comes from the Arabic word "al-qalī", which means "the calcined ashes". "Alkali" is derived from the Arabic word "al-qalīy", which means "ashes of saltwort". These terms were first introduced to the Western world by the Persian alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan in the 8th century.