Definition

Noun: 1. A chemical salt: A salt of carbonic acid containing the anion HCO₃⁻, where one hydrogen atom of the acid has been replaced by a metal or other cation. It is also known as a bicarbonate. 2. An intermediate in biological processes: This ion plays a crucial role as a buffer in biological systems, such as in blood, to help maintain a stable pH.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Sodium hydrogen carbonate (baking soda) is used in cooking.
  • The blood's ability to carry carbon dioxide relies on the formation of hydrogen carbonate ions.
  • Adding an acid to a solution containing a hydrogen carbonate will produce carbon dioxide gas.

Advanced Usage

• "Hydrogen carbonate ion": The specific term for the anion (HCO₃⁻) itself, emphasizing its ionic form in solution.
  • The hydrogen carbonate ion acts as a weak base in the bloodstream.
• In environmental science, "hydrogen carbonate" can refer to the dissolved form contributing to water alkalinity.
  • The hydrogen carbonate content of the spring water gives it its characteristic taste.

Variants and Related Words

• Bicarbonate (n): A common synonym for hydrogen carbonate. The terms are often used interchangeably, especially in biological and medical contexts (e.g., blood bicarbonate levels).
• Carbonate (n): The related ion CO₃²⁻, which forms when a hydrogen carbonate loses a proton.
• Sodium bicarbonate (n): The specific compound NaHCO₃, commonly known as baking soda.

Synonyms

• Bicarbonate: The most direct and commonly used synonym.

Related Phrases

• Hydrogen carbonate buffer system: A specific biochemical system crucial for pH regulation.
  • The hydrogen carbonate buffer system is essential for maintaining the pH of blood plasma.

Noun

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