zeolite

ze·o·lite  (z-lt)

n.

Any one of a family of hydrous aluminum silicate minerals, whose molecules enclose cations of sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, or barium, or a corresponding synthetic compound, used chiefly as molecular filters and ion-exchange agents.

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[Swedish zeolit, from Greek zein, to boil (from its swelling and boiling under the blowpipe); see yes- in Indo-European roots.]

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zeolite [ˈziːəˌlaɪt]

n

1. (Earth Sciences / Minerals) any of a large group of glassy secondary minerals consisting of hydrated aluminium silicates of calcium, sodium, or potassium: formed in cavities in lava flows and plutonic rocks

2. (Chemistry) any of a class of similar synthetic materials used in ion exchange and as selective absorbents See molecular sieve

[C18 zeo-, from Greek zein to boil + -lite; from the swelling up that occurs under the blowpipe]

zeolitic  [ˌziːəˈlɪtɪk] adj

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zeolite  (z-lt)

Any of a family of hydrous aluminum silicate minerals, whose molecules enclose cations of sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, or barium. Zeolites are usually white or colorless, but they can also be red or yellow. They are characterized by their easy and reversible loss of water of hydration. They usually occur within cavities in basalt.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

zeolite - any of a family of glassy minerals analogous to feldspar containing hydrated aluminum silicates of calcium or sodium or potassium; formed in cavities in lava flows and in plutonic rocks mineral - solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition water softener - a substance (such as sodium chloride) that lessens the hardness of water by replacing calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions and so gives the water more efficient sudsing power chabasite, chabazite - a group of minerals of the zeolite family consisting of a hydrous silicate of calcium and aluminum heulandite - a group of minerals of the zeolite family consisting of a hydrous aluminum silicate of sodium and calcium natrolite - a group of minerals of the zeolite family consisting of a hydrous silicate of sodium and aluminum phillipsite - a group of white or reddish crystalline minerals of the zeolite family consisting of a hydrous silicate of calcium and potassium and aluminum