tetrabasic

American  

[te-truh-bey-sik] / ˌtɛ trəˈbeɪ sɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.

1. (of an acid) having four atoms of hydrogen replaceable by basic atoms or groups.

2. containing four basic atoms or groups having a valence of one.

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tetrabasic British  

/ ˌtɛtrəbeɪˈsɪsɪtɪ, ˌtɛtrəˈbeɪsɪk /

adjective

1. (of an acid) containing four replaceable hydrogen atoms

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Other Word Forms

• tetrabasicity noun

Etymology

Origin of tetrabasic

First recorded in 1860–65; tetra- + basic

Example Sentences

These crystals, by careful analysis, were shown, first by Hilgenstock, to consist of a form of phosphate of lime hitherto unknown, in which four equivalents of lime were combined with one equivalent of phosphoric acid, and which was therefore called "tetrabasic phosphate."

From Project Gutenberg

The discovery that its phosphoric acid existed, as has been already explained, as a tetrabasic phosphate of lime, has strengthened the opinion that this is the best method of application.

From Project Gutenberg

Lastly, there is a fourth compound of lime and phosphoric acid, which only occurs in one phosphatic manure—viz., phosphatic slag, in which indeed it was first discovered—which consists of four equivalents of lime to one of phosphoric acid, to which the name tetrabasic phosphate of lime or tetracalcic phosphate has been given.

From Project Gutenberg

Similarly, we may have tribasic and tetrabasic acids.

From Project Gutenberg