Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'alkaline'

English Word: alkaline

Key Russian Translations:

• щелочной (/ʂʲɪˈlokənɨj/) - [Formal, Scientific]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific, chemical, and environmental contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with scientific vocabulary and adjective inflections in Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

щелочной: /ʂʲɪˈlokənɨj/

Note on щелочной: The initial "щ" sound is a voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the "sh" in "she" but more palatalized. Pronounce it with a soft, hissing quality.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: Relating to or containing alkali, having a pH greater than 7.

Translation(s) & Context:

• щелочной - Used in scientific, chemical, or environmental discussions to describe substances with alkaline properties, such as soil or water (Formal context, e.g., in laboratory reports).

Usage Examples:

• Вода в этом регионе щелочная, что делает её полезной для здоровья.

  The water in this region is alkaline, which makes it beneficial for health.

• Щелочные батареи используются в устройствах, требующих длительного питания.

  Alkaline batteries are used in devices that require long-lasting power.

• Почва в саду щелочная, поэтому некоторые растения не растут здесь.

  The soil in the garden is alkaline, so some plants don't grow here.

• Химик тестировал щелочные растворы для эксперимента.

  The chemist tested alkaline solutions for the experiment.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Щелочной is an adjective in Russian, which follows the standard pattern for first-declension adjectives. It agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. Here is a basic inflection table:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it straightforward once the basic rules are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • щелочной (no exact synonyms, but related: щелочь – alkali as a noun)
  • Щелочная среда (for alkaline environment; slight variation in context)
• Antonyms:
  • кислый (kislый) – acidic
  • нейтральный (neytrálʲnyj) – neutral

Explanation: Synonyms are limited as "щелочной" is specific; antonyms highlight the pH scale opposites.

Related Phrases:

• Щелочная реакция – Alkaline reaction (Used in chemistry to describe a process involving bases).
• Щелочная вода – Alkaline water (Common in health and wellness contexts, often referring to mineral-rich water).
• Щелочные металлы – Alkaline metals (Refers to elements like sodium and potassium in the periodic table).

Usage Notes:

"Щелочной" directly corresponds to the English "alkaline" in scientific contexts but is less common in casual speech. Always ensure it agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. For example, use "щелочная" for feminine nouns. When choosing translations, prefer "щелочной" for precise chemical descriptions over more general terms.

• In formal writing, pair it with scientific terminology.
• Avoid confusion with "щелочь" (the noun for alkali), which is related but distinct.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is failing to inflect the adjective correctly, such as using "щелочный" with a feminine noun (e.g., incorrectly saying "вода щелочный" instead of "вода щелочная"). Correct usage: Вода щелочная. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this error stems from English influence where adjectives don't inflect.

Another error is confusing it with "кислый" (acidic), leading to misuse in pH discussions. For instance, a learner might say "вода кислая" when meaning alkaline. Correct: Вода щелочная.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and science, "alkaline" concepts are prominent in discussions of health and environmental issues, such as the benefits of alkaline water in traditional medicine or soil chemistry in agriculture. This reflects Russia's emphasis on natural resources and scientific research in everyday applications.

Related Concepts:

• щелочь (alkali as a noun)
• кислота (acid)
• рН (pH, as in pH scale)