What Is the Scientific Name for Milk?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 31, 2020

Milk, when defined as a whitish-colored liquid that is secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals to supply nourishment to their young, does not have a scientific name. This includes milk that is purchased for human consumption.

Scientific names, also called chemical names, are used to describe the specific composition of a substance. Three substances that are sometimes referred to as “milk” do have scientific names, according to About.com Chemistry. The scientific name for milk of lime is calcium hydroxide. Milk of magnesium’s scientific name is magnesium hydroxide, and the scientific name for milk of sulfur is precipitated sulfur.