| caustic | <chemistry> An escharotic or corrosive agent. Synonym: cauterant. Origin: L. Causticus, Gr. Kaustikos (18 Nov 1997) |
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| caustic alkali | A highly ionised (in solution) alkali; e.g., NaOH. (05 Mar 2000) |
| caustic potash | KOH;a strong, penetrating caustic. Synonym: caustic potash. (05 Mar 2000) |
| caustic soda | <chemical> A highly caustic substance that is used to neutralise acids and make sodium salts. Pharmacological action: caustics, pharmaceutic aid. Chemical name: Sodium hydroxide (Na(OH)) (12 Dec 1998) |
| caustics | Strong alkaline chemicals that destroy soft body tissues resulting in a deep, penetrating type of burn, in contrast to corrosives, that result in a more superficial type of damage via chemical means or inflammation. Caustics are usually hydroxides of light metals. Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are the most widely used caustic agents in industry. Medically, they have been used externally to remove diseased or dead tissues and destroy warts and small tumours. The accidental ingestion of products (household and industrial) containing caustic ingredients results in thousands of injuries per year. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Loeffler's caustic stain | <technique> A stain for flagella, utilizing an aqueous solution of tannin and ferrous sulfate with the addition of an alcoholic fuchsin stain. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| lunar caustic | Silver nitrate mixed with silver chloride and allowed to dry. Usually applied to the ends of small wooden applicator sticks or made available as pencils. These are used after wetting as a caustic chemical for the removal of warts. Synonym: fused silver nitrate, lunar caustic. (05 Mar 2000) |