causticity

plural causticities

1. countableuncountableThe quality of being physically caustic; burning, corrosive.

   Some years ago, we read in a U.S. trade paper a method for determining causticity of bottle-washing solution when foil labels are contained on the bottles undergoing cleansing treatment.

   1961, Bottling: A Quarterly Supplement to the Brewing Trade Review, numbers 147-154, page 171

   2 more examples

   Causticity is that sharp and corroding quality, which many substances possess, such as the mineral acids, especially when concentrated, alkalies fixed and volatile, quicklime, arsenic, corrosive sublimate, lunar crystals, butter of antimony, and even most other salts with metallic bases.

   1777, Pierre Macquer, translated by James Keir, A Dictionary of Chemistry, volume III, London: T. Cadell & P. Elmsly

   1996, Christopher J. Biermann, Handbook of Pulping and Papermaking, Academic Press, 3.8 Kraft Pulping, p. 89, https://books.google.ca/books?id=sfZfyEmqs_AC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Causticity is the ratio of NaOH to active alkali (as always both chemicals are on an Na₂O basis), expressed as a percentage.

2. countablefigurativelyuncountableBeing caustic in speech, humour etc.

   […] one in whom a discreet causticity went along with a manner less genial than polite […]

   1924, Herman Melville, chapter 22, in Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co.

   1 more example

   He had not, he remarked with crushing causticity to one of his ministers, liberated France ‘to worry about the macaroni ration’.

   1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 65

   Synonyms: pungency