Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chemical salt: A bicarbonate is a salt derived from carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) where one hydrogen atom has been replaced by another element or radical, containing the anion HCO₃⁻. It is also known as an acid carbonate.
   • Common compound: The term is most frequently associated with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), used in baking and as an antacid.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Sodium bicarbonate is a common ingredient in baking powder.
  • The doctor recommended a bicarbonate to neutralize the stomach acid.
  • The lab test measured the level of bicarbonate in the patient's blood.

Advanced Usage

• "Bicarbonate of soda": A common name for sodium bicarbonate, especially in culinary or household contexts.
  • The recipe calls for a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda.
• "Bicarbonate buffer system": A crucial physiological system in the blood that helps maintain a stable pH.
  • The bicarbonate buffer system is essential for regulating blood acidity.

Variants and Related Words

• Bicarb (n, informal): A common abbreviation for bicarbonate, especially sodium bicarbonate.
  • Pass the bicarb; I need it for this recipe.
• Hydrogencarbonate (n): The systematic IUPAC name for bicarbonate.
• Carbonate (n): A salt containing the anion CO₃²⁻, from which bicarbonate is derived.

Synonyms

• Acid carbonate: The technical synonym for bicarbonate.
• Hydrogen carbonate: An alternative name emphasizing the presence of a hydrogen atom in the anion.

Related Phrases

(Note: As a specific chemical term, 'bicarbonate' does not commonly form phrasal verbs or idioms in everyday language. Its usage is primarily technical or in fixed compound names.)

Noun

1. a salt of carbonic acid (containing the anion HCO3) in which one hydrogen atom has been replaced; an acid carbonate