ORIGIN OF ALKALI 



By Robert Stewart,' Formerly Chemist, and William Peterson, Geologist, Utah 

 Agricultural Experiment Station 



INTRODUCTION 



The term "alkali" was probably first applied to the white incrustation 

 on the dry arid plains by the hunters and trappers of the Far West 

 long before the attention of the scientific man was directed to it. The 

 term undoubtedly originated with them, because the wind carried fine 

 white powder and deposited it in the dry parched mouth and nose of the 

 traveler and seemed to increase the great distances between the water- 

 ing places by this burning thirst and apparent caustic effect of the 

 dry dust. The parched throat of the weary thirsty traveler felt as if 

 it had been subjected to some caustic soda. Hence, the term "alkali" 

 was applied to this white deposit. In addition, the early travelers 

 and settlers of the Far West, being separated from the markets for 

 caustic alkali, were forced to secure the alkali carbonates for soap 

 making from the burning of the native bushes and trees such as grease- 

 wood, cedars, and pines. The analogy between the white deposits in the 

 soil and the white caustic obtained from the ashes of vegetation was 

 also possibly sufficient to the lay mind to cause the same term to be 

 applied to both. Whatever the origin of the term, it has an unimpor- 

 tant chemical, but a very important agricultural, significance. 



HISTORICAL REVIEW 



The first record we have of its scientific investigation is in 1870. The 

 Chemist to the Commissioner of Agriculture in his report (i, p. 96) * 

 says: 



Dr. Edward Palmer brought to the laboratory from Western Kansas prairies a sample 

 of what is called "alkali" of the western plains. It was in the form of a dry, milk- 

 white powder, mixed with bleached leaves and coarse grass. It did not effervesce 

 with acids, nor did it exhibit an acid reaction to test-paper. It contained: 



Water 3. 6 



Insoluble clay 1.5 



Chloride of sodium traces. 



Sulphate of soda 94. 6 



99-7 



It is consequently a native sulphate of soda. There is no evidence to show that it 

 is a product of volcanic action. It may owe its origin to the decomposition of sulphate 



' Now Associate Professor of Soil Fertility, University of Illinois. 

 2 Reference is made by number to " Literature cited," p. 353. 



Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. X, No. 7 



Washington, D. C. Aug. 13, 1917 



jg Key No. Utah — 



(331) 



