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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 .


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

bicarbonate Scientific  
/ bī-kärbə-nāt′ /
  1. The group HCO 3 or a compound containing it, such as sodium bicarbonate. When heated, bicarbonates give off carbon dioxide.


Etymology

Origin of bicarbonate

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The tribunal found Ali "failed to obtain informed consent" from Patient B through the vitamin C, oxygenated water, sodium bicarbonate and ozone therapy treatments.

From BBC Apr. 28, 2026

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

She was prescribed a sodium bicarbonate infusion, but was instead given a sodium nitrite infusion.

From BBC Jul. 22, 2024

Our new teacher expected us to think about writing reports while Miss Honeywell’s new class was making papier-mâché volcanoes with bicarbonate lava.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia

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