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 .

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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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• tribasicity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of tribasic

First recorded in 1830–40; tri- + basic

Example Sentences

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)

Similarly, we may have tribasic and tetrabasic acids.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William

Contrary to what we might expect, this phosphate is less insoluble than the ordinary tribasic or bone phosphate.

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

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

Being a tribasic acid, it forms acid as well as normal salts.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William