TRIBASIC ACID Meaning and
Definition
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A tribasic acid is a type of acid that is capable of donating three hydrogen ions (H+) to a base during a chemical reaction. It is characterized by having three ionizable hydrogen atoms per molecule, which can be released as ions in aqueous solutions.
Tribasic acids are typically compounds containing three carboxylic acid functional groups (-COOH), giving them the ability to donate multiple hydrogen ions. This feature makes them stronger acids compared to monobasic or dibasic acids that possess only one or two acidic hydrogens, respectively.
In aqueous solutions, tribasic acids undergo dissociation, leading to the formation of three hydrogen ions and three corresponding anions. For example, citric acid is a common tribasic acid that ionizes in water to release three H+ ions and three citrate (-COO-) ions. The degree of ionization varies depending on factors such as concentration and pH.
Tribasic acids find various applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and chemical synthesis. They are often used as acidulants, pH regulators, and chelating agents due to their ability to bind metals. Moreover, tribasic acids play a crucial role in biological systems, acting as intermediates in metabolic pathways and participating in biochemical reactions.
Overall, tribasic acids are a class of compounds that possess strong acidic properties owing to their ability to donate three hydrogen ions, making them important for numerous industrial, chemical, and biological processes.
Common Misspellings for TRIBASIC ACID
- rribasic acid
- fribasic acid
- gribasic acid
- yribasic acid
- 6ribasic acid
- 5ribasic acid
- teibasic acid
- tdibasic acid
- tfibasic acid
- ttibasic acid
- t5ibasic acid
- t4ibasic acid
- trubasic acid
- trjbasic acid
- trkbasic acid
- trobasic acid
- tr9basic acid
- tr8basic acid
- trivasic acid
Etymology of TRIBASIC ACID
The word "tribasic acid" is compound terminology consisting of two parts: "tri-" and "basic acid".
1. "Tri-" is a prefix derived from the Latin word "tres", meaning "three". It is commonly used to indicate three times or threefold.
2. "Basic acid" is a compound term that combines "basic" and "acid". The term "acid" refers to a substance that has a sour taste, is capable of turning blue litmus paper red, reacts with metals to produce hydrogen gas, and reacts with bases to form salts. The term "basic" refers to a substance that is alkaline, capable of neutralizing an acid, and typically turns red litmus paper blue. Combining these terms signifies an acid with three replaceable hydrogen atoms.
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