An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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A substance that releases hydrogen ions to form a solution with a pH of less than 7, reacts with a base to form a salt, and turns blue litmus red.

From Fr. acide, from L. acidus "sour," adj. of state from acere "to be sour," acer "sharp, pungent, bitter;" from PIE base *ak- "sharp, pointed."

Being or containing an acid; of a solution having an excess of hydrogen atoms (having a → pH of less than 7).

→ acid; → -ic.

A colorless, strong acid HClO₃, formed by the action of dilute sulfuric acid on barium chlorate.

From chlor-, → chlorine, + → -ic; → acid.

A colorless, corrosive fuming liquid with pungent odor. It occurs in various plants and in the venom of many ant species. Used in dyeing, tanning, and electroplating. Also called methanoic acid. HCOOH is the simplest organic acid and the first identified in the interstellar medium (Zuckerman et al. 1971, ApJ, 163, L41). It has been observed principally in star-forming regions such as Orion KL, Sgr B2, Sgr A, and W51 and is associated with → hot molecular cores and → massive star formation. Recently, it has also been shown to be present in some → hot corinos associated with formation of stars similar to our Sun. Due to the presence of carboxyl radical (COOH), it plays an important role in the pathway formation of → prebiotic molecules like amino acids, in the interstellar clouds and comets (see, e.g., Lattanzi et al. 2008, ApJS 176, 536).

From L. formica "ant," ultimately from from PIE *morwi-, *wormiko- "ant;" cf. Av. maoiri-; Mid.Per. môr; Pers. mur, murcé "ant;" Skt. vamra- "ant;" Gk. murmeks, wormikas; O.C.S. mraviji; O.Ir. moirb; O.N. maurr.

Same as → hydrogen cyanide.

→ hydro-; → cyano-; → acid.

A colorless liquid, HClO₄, that reacts explosively with organic matter or other reducible materials.

→ perchlorate; → -ic; → acid.

Same as → hydrogen cyanide (HCN).

So called because it was first obtained from Prussian blue, Fe₇(CN)₁₈.

A general name for a family of chemical compounds containing the element silicon attached to oxide and hydroxyl groups.

→ silicic; → acid.

An organic acid with general chemical formula C₄H₆O₆ that exists in four isomeric forms . The common form, d-tartaric acid, obtained from → tartar, is a white, soluble, crystalline solid. It occurs naturally in many plants, particularly in grapes, bananas, and tamarinds. It is also one of the main acids found in wine.

Tartaric, from → tartar; → acid.