Okyselují

Okyselují is a Czech verb form meaning they acidify or they are acidifying. It comes from the verb okyselovat, which denotes the action of making a substance or environment more acidic, i.e., lowering its pH. The word is built from the stem kysel- (acid) with the common Czech verbal suffix -ovat and the present-tense personal ending -í/ou, here in the 3rd person plural.

Use and contexts

Okyselují is widely used in scientific and technical writing. In chemistry and environmental science it describes processes that lower pH, either by adding acids or by chemical reactions that generate acidic substances. In biology and microbiology, certain organisms produce organic acids (for example lactic acid) and thereby okyselují their surroundings, which can influence microbial communities and nutrient availability. In agriculture and soil science, acidifying processes can affect plant access to minerals, soil structure, and microbial activity. In food technology, fermentation and preservation may involve okyselování of products, changing flavor, texture, and shelf life.

Related forms

The corresponding noun is okyselování (acidification). A closely related synonym in many technical contexts is acidifikovat. The imperative form is okyseluj, and the past tense forms include okyseloval/a/i.

Examples

Bakterie okyselují prostředí produkcí mléčných kyselin. Půda se může okyselovat vlivem dekompozičních procesů a vylučování organických kyselin.