How Do You Spell VOLATILE ALKALOID?

1. A volatile alkaloid is a type of chemical compound that is found primarily in plants and has the characteristic of being easily vaporizable or volatilizable. Alkaloids are a specific group of organic compounds that typically contain nitrogen and have potent physiological effects on humans, animals, or plants. The volatile alkaloids, as the name suggests, have the additional property of being highly volatile, meaning they can readily evaporate or disperse into the air as a gas at relatively low temperatures.

   These compounds are often responsible for the distinctive smells or odors associated with certain plants. When plants containing volatile alkaloids are disturbed or crushed, the release of these compounds into the air results in a strong fragrance or pungent scent. Due to their high volatility, these alkaloids can easily be inhaled, which can lead to various effects in living organisms.

   Volatile alkaloids have been found in a wide range of plant species such as tobacco, coffee, pepper, and certain medicinal herbs. They are known to have diverse physiological properties and can exhibit both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on various bodily systems. Some volatile alkaloids have been used in traditional medicine for their analgesic, sedative, or even hallucinogenic properties.

   Overall, the term volatile alkaloid refers to a specific type of organic compound found in plants that is characterized by its ability to readily vaporize and produce distinct scents or odors. These compounds can have profound effects on the physiology of organisms and are often associated with the medicinal and aromatic properties of certain plants.

2. A liquid a containing the elements C, H, and N, and volatile without decomposition; coniine and nicotine are volatile alkaloids.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for VOLATILE ALKALOID

The term "volatile alkaloid" is a combination of two separate concepts: "volatile" and "alkaloid".

The word "volatile" comes from the Latin word "volatilis", meaning "fleeting" or "evaporating quickly". It is derived from the verb "volare", which means "to fly". In the context of chemistry, "volatile" refers to substances that easily evaporate at normal temperatures and pressures.

The word "alkaloid" originates from the Arabic term "al-qalīyah", meaning "the ashes". This was later translated into Latin as "alcali", and eventually developed into "alkali" in English. Initially, "alkaloid" referred to certain compounds found in plant ashes that have basic (alkaline) properties. However, over time, the term became associated with various nitrogenous organic compounds that possess alkaline properties and are commonly found in plants.