'non-alkaline' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and 'alkaline' from the Arabic word 'al-qaly' meaning 'ashes of the saltwort'.

'non-alkaline' combines the prefix 'non-' with 'alkaline', which was derived from the Arabic 'al-qaly', through Middle English 'alkali'.

Initially, 'alkaline' referred to substances derived from ashes, but 'non-alkaline' has come to mean any substance that does not exhibit alkaline properties.