Dictionary definition of “socks and knocks”

socks and knocks

n.pl. the oxides of sulfur and nitrogen commonly found in pollution. Subjects: English, Environment, Science

Etymological Note: A literal pronunciation of the characters that make up the chemical notations SOx, representing various oxides of sulfur, and NOx, representing various oxides of nitrogen. A third related term, ROx, is explained in the 2001 citation. All of the lower-case exes in the chemical notations, properly represented, would be subscript.

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Citations: 1997 Lucille Van Ommering @ Sacramento, Calif. Meeting Before The California Air Resources Board (May 22) p. 30-31: That reclaim program is effective for both emissions of knocks and socks. 1997 John D. Dunlap Meeting Before the California Air Resources Board (Dec. 11) p. 114: Dr. Pitts lecturing some students on the videotape and it is rock, socks and knocks, is that right, and it is still out there and it is still relevant, but that my very first day on the job, I watched this film. 2001 Harold H. Schobert Energy and Society: An Introduction (Oct. 1) p. 432-3: Sulfur is capable of forming more than one oxide…, conveniently lumped together with the symbol SOx. Similarly, nitrogen can produce more than one oxide; they are lumped together as NOx.…Sometimes the generic symbol R is used to represent the metallic elements (such as silicon, aluminum, and iron) present in the various constituents of ash. Then the notation ROx can be taken as a symbol for ash. It’s then possible to refer to the potential pollutants as socks, knocks, and rocks. 2002 Mike Bull @ Research Department of the Minnesota House of Representatives House Research Short Subjects (St. Paul, Minn.) (Oct.) “Air Quality Regulation in Minnesota” p. 1: The seven criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide (CO); lead; sulphur dioxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) (often called “socks and knocks”). 2004 Doug Abra, Ed Wojczynski Manitoba Clean Environment Commission Verbatim Transcript (Can.) (Mar. 2) “Hearing: Wuskwatim Generation and Transmission Project” vol. 2, p. 506-8: Do GHG, socks, knocks and land use have any impact on DSM or SSE at all?…Have you done similar analysis of Gull, or Conawapa, or Notigi, on those particular issues of GHG, socks, knocks and land use, to use the slang?…Determining the lifecycle socks and knocks is not something that we use at a screening level. 2005 Bill Paul Motley Fool (Apr. 21) “Cleaning Up With ‘Socks and Knocks’”: Readers should understand clearly that if the power industry prevails in its court challenges to the initiative, the huge amount of money expected to be spent primarily on reducing what the industry commonly calls “socks and knocks” might not get spent. ("Socks and knocks” is a word play on the symbols for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, SO2 and NOx, respectively.)

Posted 22 Apr 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend