A hydroxide is a chemical compound that holds an oxygen atom joined to a hydrogen atom — the pair written OH. That OH group is stuck to a metal (or something like a metal), so you get names like sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide.

A hydroxide is hydroxide是 a chemical compound一種化學化合物 that holds an oxygen atom joined to a hydrogen atom裡面有一個氧原子跟一個氫原子連在一起 the pair written OH這一對寫作OH That OH group is stuck to a metal這個OH基會接在一個金屬上 or something like a metal或類似金屬的東西 so you get names like所以就有了 sodium hydroxide sodium hydroxide（氫氧化鈉） calcium hydroxide calcium hydroxide（氫氧化鈣） magnesium hydroxide magnesium hydroxide（氫氧化鎂）這樣的名字

In water, many hydroxides behave as bases: they can cancel acids. You meet the word in school chemistry and on some product labels (drain cleaner, antacid).

In water在水裡 many hydroxides behave as bases很多hydroxide的表現像鹼 they can cancel acids可以中和酸 You meet the word你會遇到這個詞 in school chemistry在學校化學課 and on some product labels還有一些產品標籤上 drain cleaner, antacid通樂、胃藥

Sodium hydroxide is the strong, dangerous one people also call lye; it can burn skin. Calcium hydroxide turns up in lime for building and for treating water.

Sodium hydroxide sodium hydroxide is the strong, dangerous one是那種強烈、危險的 people also call lye大家也叫它lye（鹼液） it can burn skin它會灼傷皮膚 Calcium hydroxide calcium hydroxide turns up in lime則出現在石灰裡 for building建築用的 and for treating water也用來處理水質

Though actually, a hydroxide is not “a kind of water” and not the same as hydrogen. Water is H₂O; a hydroxide has that OH piece as part of a bigger compound.

Though actually不過其實 a hydroxide is not “a kind of water” hydroxide不是「一種水」 and not the same as hydrogen也跟hydrogen（氫）不一樣 Water is水是 H₂O H₂O a hydroxide has that OH piece hydroxide則是把那個OH片段 as part of a bigger compound當成一個更大化合物的一部分

The word is almost only used by science teachers, chemists, and people reading ingredient lists.

The word is almost only used by這個詞幾乎只有 science teachers科學老師 chemists化學家 and people reading ingredient lists還有看成分表的人才會用