English Reference

Word

bicarbonate

Phoneticsbi·car·bon·ate

US/baɪˈkɑɹbənət/

UK/baɪkˈɑːbənˌeɪt/

Definition

n. a chemical substance that is often used to neutralize acids. You might know it as baking soda, which is used in cooking or cleaning.

n. a salt of carbonic acid, typically containing the HCO3− ion. Often used in industrial and household contexts for neutralizing acids or as a leavening agent.

Examples

“Baking powder contains bicarbonate to help the cake rise.”

“The technician added a small amount of bicarbonate to the solution to neutralize the excess acid.”

“In the human body, bicarbonate acts as a crucial buffer to maintain the pH balance of the blood, ensuring that metabolic processes remain stable despite the production of acidic byproducts.”

Examples

simple

“Baking powder contains bicarbonate to help the cake rise.”

contextual

“The technician added a small amount of bicarbonate to the solution to neutralize the excess acid.”

complex

“In the human body, bicarbonate acts as a crucial buffer to maintain the pH balance of the blood, ensuring that metabolic processes remain stable despite the production of acidic byproducts.”

Real-World Examples

“Raising agents, such as disodium diphosphate, are used alongside sodium bicarbonate (baking powder) to make the batter crisp and light.”
BBC News · 26 Sept 2026
“En route to Japan, she stopped in Hawaii, where she died in agony after taking bicarbonate of soda as a digestive aid.”
Smithsonian Magazine · 30 Jul 2026

Etymology

From bi- + carbonate.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference