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Jan 9, 2014 16:09
10 yrs ago
3 viewers *
German term

Kalilauge

German to English Science Chemistry; Chem Sci/Eng
What's more commonly used in English, 'caustic potash' or 'potassium hydroxide solution'? I am proofreading a patent and the translator translated Kalilauge as 'caustic potash'. I am not a chemist, but potassium hydroxide solution sounds more natural to me. I'd hesitate to correct the term, though, in case it's something specifically used in patents. Could someone familiar with this shed some light on this, please?

One sentence where it appears: "Kalium-o-phenylphenolat is als 36%ige Kalilaugenloesung auf dem Markt."

Thanks a lot!
Proposed translations (English)
5 Potassium Hydroxide solution
5 potassium hydroxide solution
5 -2 Caustic potash
4 -1 potash solution

Discussion

rainerc (X) Jan 11, 2014:
@ Cilian I'm not mistaken, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potash. On the other hand, "caustic potash" is indeed KOH. The name potash is very missleading and should thus be avoided. See: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/potash
See also: http://www.pda.org.uk/what-is-potash.html

Proposed translations

12 mins
Selected

Potassium Hydroxide solution

For a patent, I'd use the scientifically accurate term,particularly since an exact % is mentioned.
Peer comment(s):
agree Carola Lange : (MSc in Organic Synthesis) seconded - for a patent the correct chemical terminology as listed, for instance, in the Sigma Aldrich catalogue has to be preferred to the common name - see http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sial/p4494?lang=...®ion=GB
2 hrs
neutral Cilian O'Tuama : agree with term but not with capitalisation (and I can't follow the logic of your explanation)
4 hrs
disagree rainerc (X) : (MSc in Chemistry) without capital letters, especially when it's a patent!
6 hrs
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, I'm awarding points b/c you were the first one to provide this answer, though capitalization is clearly incorrect ( hence 3 instead of 4)"
-2
9 mins

Caustic potash

Caustic potash is scientifically not wrong. The translator might have chosen it to emphasize the corrosive nature of the solution.

P.S. Not a native speaker, but have biochemistry background in English.
Note from asker:
You are right, but I chose to go with potassium hydroxide solution b/c it says KalilaugeLOESUNG. Caustic potash is a non-scientific term, but not incorrect, you're absolutely right. Thanks!
Peer comment(s):
disagree Cilian O'Tuama : potash is a solid, -lauge is a solution/lye // Reason for my perhaps seemingly harsh disagree is your 100% confidence level, and that I only gave "KOH solution" a neutral.
4 hrs
disagree rainerc (X) : with Cilian, it's an outdated term and has no place in a patent.
7 hrs
Something went wrong...
-1
9 mins

potash solution

is what I would say
Reference:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=We6s8zq1CkQC&pg=PA124&lpg=PA124&dq=kalilauge+lime&source=bl&ots=BAdSLAnraZ&sig=AfvUKcI5hYTM-m3DbHplPmTlvQ

Peer comment(s):
neutral Cilian O'Tuama : yes, you need "solution" // BTW, rainerc is mistaken: potash is KOH (but not KOH solution)
4 hrs
disagree rainerc (X) : potash is not potassium hydroxide!
7 hrs
Something went wrong...
7 hrs

potassium hydroxide solution

Without capitals, according to english IUPAC nomenclature.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2014-01-09 23:19:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUPAC_nomenclature_of_inorganic...

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Note added at 19 hrs (2014-01-10 11:17:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks Cilian, it should of course be "English IUPAC nomenclature"
Note from asker:
Thank you, too. You're answer was 100% correct, but it came rather late so I chose to award points to Lofthouse this time.
Sorry, typo: "YOUR answer, of course!"
Peer comment(s):
neutral Cilian O'Tuama : You're right, but why even bother with a separate entry...? :-) And "English" always takes a capital :-)) // I understand where you're coming from.
28 mins
Because chemistry has its own nomenclature and apparently simple oversights are just wrong! And it got an "agree" from a chemist!!
Something went wrong...
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