bicarbonate

American  

[bahy-kahr-buh-nit, -neyt] / baɪˈkɑr bə nɪt, -ˌneɪt /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a salt of carbonic acid, containing the HCO 3 −1 group; an acid carbonate, as sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO 3 .

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bicarbonate British  

/ baɪˈkɑːbənɪt, -ˌneɪt /

noun

1. a salt of carbonic acid containing the ion HCO 3 ^– ; an acid carbonate

2. Systematic name: hydrogen carbonate.  (modifier) consisting of, containing, or concerned with the ion HCO 3 ^–

   a bicarbonate compound

3. short for bicarbonate of soda

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bicarbonate Scientific  

/ bī-kär′bə-nāt′ /

1. The group HCO ₃ or a compound containing it, such as sodium bicarbonate. When heated, bicarbonates give off carbon dioxide.

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Etymology

Origin of bicarbonate

First recorded in 1810–20; bi- ¹ + carbonate

Example Sentences

The rise of Nomio follows a recent surge in the use of sodium bicarbonate, also known as plain-old baking soda.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

After the race, he said he’d recently started using sodium bicarbonate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2025

In the presence of carbon dioxide -- that pesky gas disrupting global climate systems -- our cells gain a secret weapon in the form of bicarbonate which helps keep pH levels balanced.

From Science Daily • Nov. 26, 2024

In contrast, her team's findings show that the presence of bicarbonate from dissolved CO₂ changes the reaction to make a milder radical striking only guanine, the G in our four-letter genetic code.

From Science Daily • Nov. 26, 2024

He flourished meats and bread baked the day before, dusted a table, invited himself to sit, and ate until he had to go find a soda fountain, where he ordered a bicarbonate.

From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury