a white or yellowish powdery polysaccharide having marked hydrophilic properties. Extracted from kelp, it is used mainly in the food and textile industries and in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Formula: (C6H8O6)n; molecular wt: 32 000–250 000
alginic acid in American English
(ælˈdʒɪnɪk)
a gelatinous material, (C6H8O)n, extracted from brown seaweed or kelp: used in jellies, plastics, dentistry, etc.