zeolite

[ zee-uh-lahyt ]
/ ˈzi əˌlaɪt /

noun Mineralogy.

any of a group of hydrated silicates of aluminum with alkali metals, commonly occurring as secondary minerals in cavities in basic volcanic rocks: used for their molecular sieve properties because they undergo dehydration with little or no change in crystal structure.

Origin of zeolite

1770–80; < Greek ze(în) to boil + -o- + -lite

OTHER WORDS FROM zeolite

ze·o·lit·ic [zee-uh-lit-ik] /ˌzi əˈlɪt ɪk/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for zeolite

British Dictionary definitions for zeolite

zeolite
/ (ˈziːəˌlaɪt) /

noun

any of a large group of glassy secondary minerals consisting of hydrated aluminium silicates of calcium, sodium, or potassium: formed in cavities in lava flows and plutonic rocks
any of a class of similar synthetic materials used in ion exchange and as selective absorbents See molecular sieve

Derived forms of zeolite

zeolitic (ˌziːəˈlɪtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for zeolite

c18: zeo-, from Greek zein to boil + -lite; from the swelling up that occurs under the blowpipe

Scientific definitions for zeolite

zeolite
[ zēə-līt′ ]

Any of a family of hydrous aluminum silicate minerals, whose molecules enclose cations of sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, or barium. Zeolites are usually white or colorless, but they can also be red or yellow. They are characterized by their easy and reversible loss of water of hydration. They usually occur within cavities in basalt.