bicarbonate

noun bi·car·bon·ate \ (ˌ)bī-ˈkär-bə-ˌnāt , -nət \

Updated on: 27 Mar 2018

Definition of bicarbonate

: an acid carbonate

Recent Examples of bicarbonate from the Web

Carbon dioxide dissolved in rainwater is turned into bicarbonate, which trickles away in groundwater or rivers and eventually reaches the ocean.

— scott k. johnson, Ars Technica, "Crush the right rock and spread it on farms to help soil and the climate," 22 Feb. 2018
Today, piping hot 104-degree water rich in sulfate, calcium, bicarbonate, and magnesium flows into Miette’s pair of voluminous pools, which are walled by mountain slopes frequented by bighorn sheep.

— daniel otis, Sunset, "Top Wow Spots of Banff & Jasper National Parks," 22 Jan. 2018
For many departments in the United States, the toolkit includes the FIT-5, a grenade-like canister that douses flames with a potassium bicarbonate powder.

— eoin o'carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, "18 bright ideas for 2018, from flying taxis to companion robots," 24 Dec. 2017
Brew water containing low levels of both calcium ions and bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) – that is, soft water – will result in a highly acidic cup, sometimes described as sour.

— christopher h. hendon, Smithsonian, "The Chemistry and Physics Behind the Perfect Cup of Coffee," 28 Sep. 2017
The original-formula Alka-Seltzer contains sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

— teresa graedon, The Seattle Times, "Homemade ‘ginger ale’ calms upset stomach," 27 Aug. 2017
Arginine bicarbonate plugs the exposed pores in your teeth for immediate relief, while other ingredients, such as potassium nitrate and strontium chloride, block pain signals to the brain.

— joanne chen, Redbook, "Teeth: An Owner's Manual," 24 July 2017
That drug is sodium bicarbonate solution, aka baking soda, which is used in chemo regimens, as a poison antidote, and to help patients whose blood has veered into acidic ranges, among other uses.

— jenn gidman, Fox News, "Hospitals are scrambling for the 'simplest of drugs': baking soda," 23 May 2017
The shortage of sodium bicarbonate solution is only the latest example of an inexpensive hospital staple’s supply dwindling to a critical level.

— katie thomas, New York Times, "A Vital Drug Runs Low, Though Its Base Ingredient Is in Many Kitchens," 21 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bicarbonate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.