Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'litmus'

English Word: litmus

Key Russian Translations:

• лакмус [ˈlakmus] - [Formal, Scientific]

Frequency: Medium (Primarily used in scientific and educational contexts, less common in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires basic knowledge of chemistry terminology, but the word is straightforward for learners familiar with loanwords)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лакмус: [ˈlakmus]

Note on лакмус: The stress is on the first syllable. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech, but it's generally consistent as a loanword from English/German.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A dye used as an acid-base indicator in chemistry, turning red in acid and blue in alkali.

Translation(s) & Context:

• лакмус - Used in formal scientific or educational contexts, such as laboratory experiments or chemical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В лаборатории лакмус используется для определения pH раствора.

  In the laboratory, litmus is used to determine the pH of a solution.

• Студенты изучают, как лакмус реагирует на кислоты и основания.

  Students study how litmus reacts to acids and bases.

• Для простого теста кислотности можно применить лакмусовую бумагу.

  For a simple acidity test, you can use litmus paper.

• Лакмус в химических экспериментах помогает визуализировать изменения pH.

  Litmus in chemical experiments helps visualize pH changes.

• В школьном уроке химии учитель продемонстрировал лакмус с различными веществами.

  In the school chemistry lesson, the teacher demonstrated litmus with various substances.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Лакмус is a masculine noun and a loanword from English/German, which typically does not undergo regular inflection in Russian due to its status as an unadapted foreign term. It remains unchanged in most cases:

• Nominative: лакмус
• Genitive: лакмуса (e.g., "отсутствие лакмуса" - absence of litmus)
• Dative: лакмусу (e.g., "добавить лакмусу" - add litmus)
• Accusative: лакмус (e.g., "использовать лакмус" - use litmus)
• Instrumental: лакмусом (e.g., "тестировать с лакмусом" - test with litmus)
• Prepositional: лакмусе (e.g., "в лакмусе" - in litmus)

For plural forms, it is rarely used as "лакмусы" in informal contexts, but this is uncommon. The word is invariant in scientific writing.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: индикатор pH (pH indicator) - A more general term, often used interchangeably in broader contexts; тестовая бумага (test paper) - For litmus paper specifically.
• Antonyms: N/A (As a specific substance, it doesn't have direct antonyms, but neutral indicators like фенолфталеин might be contrasted in usage.)

Related Phrases:

• лакмусовый тест - A litmus test; used metaphorically in English, but in Russian, it refers to the actual chemical test.
• лакмусовая бумага - Litmus paper; a common phrase in laboratory settings, referring to paper impregnated with litmus dye.
• тест на лакмусе - Test on litmus; implies using litmus for experimentation.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "лакмус" directly corresponds to the English "litmus" as a chemical term and is used in formal, scientific contexts. It is not commonly used in everyday language, so learners should note its domain-specific application. When translating, ensure the context is chemical; for metaphorical uses (e.g., "litmus test" in politics), Russians might use "лакмусовый тест" literally or adapt with phrases like "критерий истинности" (criterion of truth). Grammar-wise, as a masculine noun, it follows standard declension patterns, but its inflections are minimal due to its foreign origin. Choose "лакмус" over synonyms when precision in chemistry is needed.

Common Errors:

• Error: Misusing "лакмус" as a verb or in incorrect cases, e.g., saying "лакмусить" (non-existent word) instead of "провести тест с лакмусом" (conduct a test with litmus). Correct usage: Use it as a noun only, e.g., "Лакмус изменил цвет" (Litmus changed color). Explanation: Russian doesn't verbify loanwords like this; stick to nominal forms.

• Error: Confusing it with similar terms like "фенолфталеин," leading to incorrect translations in sentences. Correct: Specify "лакмус" for acid-base indicators specifically, as in "Для проверки кислотности используйте лакмус" (For checking acidity, use litmus). Explanation: Each indicator has unique properties, so accuracy in terminology prevents scientific misunderstandings.

Cultural Notes:

"Лакмус" is a borrowed term with no strong cultural connotations in Russian, as it stems from scientific history (originally from litmus lichen). However, it reflects Russia's emphasis on STEM education, where such terms are taught early in school chemistry, highlighting the universal nature of scientific language across cultures.

Related Concepts:

• индикатор pH
• кислота
• основа
• фенолфталеин