litmus

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litmus

litmus organic dye usually used in the laboratory as an indicator of acidity or alkalinity (see acids and bases ). Naturally pink in color, it turns blue in alkali solutions and red in acids. Commonly, paper is treated with the coloring matter to form so-called litmus paper. Litmus is extracted, chiefly in the Netherlands, from certain lichens (see archil ), which are mashed, treated with potassium carbonate and ammonia, and allowed to ferment. The resulting product is mixed with various colorless substances, such as chalk or gypsum, and is sold in dark blue lumps, masses, or tablets. The active component of litmus, i.e., the part sensitive to acids or bases, is called erythrolitmin.

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"litmus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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litmus

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | Â© A Dictionary of Plant Sciences 1998, originally published by Oxford University Press 1998. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

litmus A dye obtained from lichens of the genus Roccella. Litmus is used as a pH indicator, being red under acidic conditions and blue under alkaline conditions.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "litmus." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "litmus." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (December 18, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-litmus.html

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litmus

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

litmus blue colouring matter from lichens. XVI. — ONorw. litmosi, f. ON. litr dye + mosi MOSS.

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T. F. HOAD. "litmus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "litmus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (December 18, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-litmus.html

T. F. HOAD. "litmus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved December 18, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-litmus.html

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