A solvent would enable the original material to be recovered in
the original chemical form ( not the physical one) by evaporating
the solvent. Shellac in ethanol fits this. Lye reacts withe
original and changes it into something else. Like fats (
tricycle) into soap.
jesse
I’m really not just trying to be difficult-- but-- of course, the
organic matter doesn’t “dissappear”… it breaks down into smaller
bits, or recombines, or… what? Dissolves? That kinda sounds like
what a solvent does to me. So, if not, then what is it?
websters: lye(potassium hydroxide), caustic solid; solvent, liquid