Definition

A type of chemical compound that is formed from carbonic acid, often found in salts or esters.

Example

Sodium carbonate is commonly used in glass making and as a cleaning agent.

Conversation

Did you know that some minerals contain carbonate compounds?

Really? I didn't realize that. What are they used for?

They can be used in things like glass-making and even in baking soda.

That's interesting! I guess carbonate is more common than I thought.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To change a substance into a compound that contains carbon and oxygen, often by adding carbon dioxide.

Example

The scientist decided to carbonate the water to make it fizzy.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Have you ever tried to carbonate your own drinks at home?

I haven't, but it sounds like a fun experiment!

Yeah, I read that you can just use a soda maker to carbonate water easily.

Root Explanation

Carbonate → It is formed from "carbon" (from Latin "carbo", meaning coal or carbon) and "-ate" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote a salt or ester of an acid). The word "carbonate" refers to a salt or ester derived from carbonic acid, containing the carbonate ion.

Memory Tip

Think of 'carbon' as the base element and '-ate' indicating a chemical compound, which helps you remember that 'carbonate' is a compound related to carbon.

Visually Confused Words