potassn.
/pəˈtas/, /ˈpɒtas/, U.S. /pəˈtæs/, /ˈpɑdˌæs/ 1. Chemistry.† a. = potash n. 3b. Obsolete.
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the world > matter > chemistry > elements and compounds > metals > specific elements > potassium > [noun] > compounds > potash
potash1789
potass1799
potassa1801
1799 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 1 243 To reduce the dropsical swellings..ten or fifteen grains of potass, two or three times a day, in some bitter draught, are directed.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 388 All the mineral acids dissolve tin, and it may be precipitated from its solutions by potass; but an excess of potass will re-dissolve the metal.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 414 Pure potass is extremely white, and so caustic, that if applied to the hand, the skin is instantly destroyed; it is therefore in this state called caustic alkali.
b. = potash n. 3a.
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the world > matter > chemistry > elements and compounds > metals > specific elements > potassium > [noun] > naming form
potash1788
potass1815
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 414 The potash of commerce is always combined with carbonic acid... This addition..reduces it to its usual state of what is called mild alkali, or by chemists carbonate of potass, or rather sub-carbonate of potass, as it is not saturated with the carbonic acid.
1860 G. W. S. Piesse Lab. Chem. Wonders 26 A substance of similar composition to nitrate of potass (saltpetre).
1873 A. R. Thomas Pract. Guide making Post-mortem Exam. 33 Should it be desired to preserve any portion for microscopic examination, it may be suspended in a solution of bichromate of potass.
2002 Asiainfo Daily China News (Nexis) 11 June In order to ease the situation of great shortage of potass in the soil of Northwest, the first potash magnesium fertilizer production base in Northwest which established by Shanxi Jiameifeili.
2. = potash n. 2. Now rare.
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the world > food and drink > drink > aerated or carbonated drink > [noun]
mineral water1829
bellywash1874
potash1876
potass1883
fizzy1896
bubble water1947
skoosh1959
carbonate1982
1883 F. M. Crawford Dr. Claudius vi. 102 I think I will have some curaçao and potass.
1888 Harper's Mag. Mar. 526/1 Instead of a biscuit and a glass of sherry in the forenoon.., it will be soda-water, and seltzer-water, and potass-water.
1903 A. Bennett Leonora vi. 156 Harry Burgess..called for a whisky and potass.
1905 H. A. Vachell Hill iii. 57 Whisky and potass does not agree with everybody; but I am not screwed, not at all.
2002 Daily Post (Liverpool) (Nexis) 26 Mar. 6 They dealt with soda, potass, lithia, seltzer waters, lemonade, ginger ale, [etc.].
Compounds
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the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > silicates > tectosilicate > [noun] > feldspar > plagioclase > albites
albite1817
pericline1832
adinole1835
peristerite1843
potass-albite1850
zygadite1861
albitite1896
1850 C. G. B. Daubeny Introd. Atomic Theory (ed. 2) xii. 416 In a few instances, as in potass-albite,..this base would seem to be partly soda and partly potass.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1799