tribasic

American  

[trahy-bey-sik] / traɪˈbeɪ sɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.

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

2. containing three atoms or groups, each having a valence of one, as tribasic sodium phosphate, Na 3 PO 4 .

---

tribasic British  

/ traɪˈbeɪsɪk /

adjective

1. (of an acid) containing three replaceable hydrogen atoms in the molecule

2. (of a molecule) containing three monovalent basic atoms or groups in the molecule

---

Other Word Forms

• tribasicity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of tribasic

First recorded in 1830–40; tri- + basic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tribasic

It is tribasic, forming three distinct classes of metallic salts.

From The Story of the Soil; from the Basis of Absolute Science and Real Life, by Hopkins, Cyril G. (Cyril George)

In the ordinary so-called raw phosphates, such as bone-meal, bone-ash, coprolites, &c., the lime and phosphoric acid are combined in the form of what is known, in chemical phraseology, as tribasic phosphate of lime.

From Manures and the principles of manuring by Aikman, Charles Morton

An acid is said to be monobasic, dibasic, tribasic, &c., according to the number of replaceable hydrogen atoms; thus HNO3 is monobasic, sulphuric acid H2SO4 dibasic, phosphoric acid H3PO4 tribasic.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various

The solution of arsenious oxide in water reacts acid towards litmus and contains tribasic arsenious acid, although on evaporation of the solution the trioxide is obtained and not the free acid.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various

Now it was naturally concluded at first that the tribasic phosphate was the form in which these two substances existed in the slag.

From Manures and the principles of manuring by Aikman, Charles Morton