alginic acid

Definition

An insoluble colloidal acid (C₆H₈O₆)ₙ that in the form of its salts is a constituent of the cell walls of brown algae and is used as a food additive.

Etymology

From algin + -ic and acid.

Example Sentences

• "For the long-stalked kelps that sway in dusky forests just below the level of the spring tides, survival in the surf zone is largely a matter of chemistry. Their tissues contain large amounts of alginic acid and its salts, which create a tensile strength and elasticity able to withstand the pulling and pounding of the waves."