noun
Alcalis
One of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, soda ash, caustic soda, potash, ammonia, and lithia, whose distinguishing peculiarities are solubility in alcohol and water, uniting with oils and fats to form soap, neutralizing and forming salts with acids, turning to brown several vegetable yellows, and changing reddened litmus to blue.
Lors de la fabrication de savon à la maison, il est crucial de manipuler les alcalis forts comme la lessive avec une extrême prudence, car ils peuvent brûler la peau.
