tribasic

[trahy-bey-sik]

adjective Chemistry.

(of an acid) having three atoms of hydrogen replaceable by basic atoms or groups.
containing three atoms or groups, each having a valence of one, as tribasic sodium phosphate, Na3PO4.

Origin of tribasic

First recorded in 1830–40; tri- + basic

Related formstri·ba·sic·i·ty

[trahy-bey-sis-i-tee] /ˌtraɪ beɪˈsɪs ɪ ti/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for tribasic

Historical Examples of tribasic

This salt, which is tribasic, is also formed when1058 the preceding crystallised salts are put into hot water.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume II
Arnold Cooley
Tribasic sodium phosphate alone without the addition of the carbonate will also give good results.
The Mechanism of Life
Stphane Leduc
Being a tribasic acid, it forms acid as well as normal salts.
An Elementary Study of Chemistry
William McPherson
Morphine itself is a tribasic meconate, and narcotin, of course, another opium derivative.
The Ethics of Medical Homicide and Mutilation
Austin O'Malley

British Dictionary definitions for tribasic

tribasic

adjective

(of an acid) containing three replaceable hydrogen atoms in the molecule
(of a molecule) containing three monovalent basic atoms or groups in the molecule

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

tribasic in Medicine

tribasic

[trī-bā′sĭk]

adj.

Relating to an acid containing three replaceable hydrogen atoms per molecule.
Relating to a base or salt containing three univalent basic atoms or radicals per molecule.