titanic acid
Definition
Noun: 1. A white, weak acid that is a hydrated form of titanium dioxide: A chemical compound, typically represented as H₂TiO₃ or Ti(OH)₄, formed when titanium dioxide reacts with water or bases. It is not a strong acid and is often described as an amphoteric oxide hydrate.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- In the laboratory, titanic acid was precipitated as a white gel.
- The formation of titanic acid is a key step in some industrial processes for purifying titanium.
- Researchers studied the adsorption properties of titanic acid.
Advanced Usage
- "Hydrated titanic acid": A more precise term emphasizing its composition as titanium dioxide combined with water molecules.
- The filter was coated with hydrated titanic acid to improve its performance.
- In technical contexts, "titanic acid" often refers to the amorphous, gelatinous form of titanium(IV) oxide hydroxide, which is not a discrete, stable acid like sulfuric acid but rather a reactive intermediate.
Variants and Related Words
- Titanate (n): A salt or ester of titanic acid.
- Barium titanate is an important ceramic material.
- Titanium dioxide / Titania (n): The parent oxide (TiO₂) from which titanic acid is derived.
- Titanium dioxide is a common white pigment in paint.
Synonyms
- Titanium(IV) hydroxide: A more systematic chemical name.
- Orthotitanic acid: A specific name for the form H₄TiO₄.
Notes on Meaning
The term "titanic acid" is primarily used in chemistry and materials science. It does not refer to a common, strong acid but to a specific, often metastable, hydrated form of titanium oxide with weakly acidic (and basic) properties. Its main significance is as a precursor or intermediate in chemical synthesis and material fabrication.
Noun
-
a white weak acid that is a hydrated form of titanium dioxide
