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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, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "litmus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-litmus.html "litmus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-litmus.html |
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litmus
litmus Dye that is purple in neutral aqueous solutions; it is used to indicate acidity (turning red) or alkalinity (turning blue). It is most familiar in the form of litmus paper used as an acid-base indicator. The dye is extracted from lichens. See also pH
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"litmus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "litmus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-litmus.html "litmus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-litmus.html |
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litmus
lit·mus / ˈlitməs/ • n. a dye obtained from certain lichens that is red under acid conditions and blue under alkaline conditions. |
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"litmus." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "litmus." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-litmus.html "litmus." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-litmus.html |
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litmus
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "litmus." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "litmus." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-litmus.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "litmus." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-litmus.html |
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litmus
litmus (lit-mŭs) n. a pigment used as an indicator of acids and alkalis. In the presence of acids it turns red; with alkalis it turns blue.
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"litmus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "litmus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-litmus.html "litmus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-litmus.html |
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litmus
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. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "litmus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-litmus.html T. F. HOAD. "litmus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-litmus.html |
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litmus
litmus •Lammas • Cadmus • Las Palmas
•chiasmus, Erasmus
•Nostradamus
•famous, ignoramus, Seamus, shamus
•Polyphemus, Remus
•grimace • Michaelmas
•Christmas, isthmus
•litmus
•animus, equanimous, magnanimous, pusillanimous, unanimous
•anonymous, eponymous, Hieronymus, pseudonymous, synonymous
•Septimus
•Mimas, primus, thymus, timeous
•Thomas
•enormous, ginormous
•brumous, hummus, humous, humus, spumous, strumous
•blasphemous
•bigamous, polygamous, trigamous
•endogamous, monogamous
•calamus, hypothalamus, thalamus
•venomous
•autonomous, bonhomous, heteronomous
•Pyramus
•dichotomous, hippopotamus, trichotomous
•Thermos
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"litmus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "litmus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-litmus.html "litmus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-litmus.html |
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