Calx
/kælks/noun
A term used in chemistry to refer to the residue left after burning a substance, often a metal oxide.
Did you know?In alchemy, 'calx' was believed to represent the transformative power of fire, turning base materials into gold or other valuable substances.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kal-
“to burn, heat”
Latin
Latin
calx
“lime, burnt lime, a residue from burning”
Old French
Old French
calx
“lime, used in construction and agriculture”
Middle English
Middle English
calx
“a term referring to lime or a residue from burning”
Modern English
English
calx
“in chemistry, the solid residue after heating a substance”