carbonate
carbonate — noun
1. a chemical substance formed when carbon and oxygen bond with a metal or other el
a chemical substance formed when carbon and oxygen bond with a metal or other element, making up many kinds of minerals, rocks, and biological materials
Limestone is made mostly of calcium carbonate, a common mineral.
common collocations: calcium carbonate / sodium carbonate
The lab technician tested the water sample for dissolved carbonates.
countable: specific chemical compounds
Many carbonate minerals form when sea organisms build their shells.
The soil in this region is rich in carbonate salts from ancient seabeds.
用法筆記
Frequently used in compound forms such as calcium carbonate or sodium carbonate, where the first word names the metal or other positive ion. Typically found in geology, chemistry, and biology contexts.
常見錯誤
carbonate — verb
1. to change a substance into a carbonate by adding carbon and oxygen through a che
to change a substance into a carbonate by adding carbon and oxygen through a chemical reaction
The factory uses a special process to carbonate lime for industrial use.
passive use: carbonate + material
When the mineral is carbonated, it becomes much harder and more stable.
The chemist carbonated the solution by bubbling carbon dioxide through it.
Over time, the rock carbonates as rainwater carries carbon dioxide into the cracks.
用法筆記
Common in technical descriptions of chemical processes. Frequently used in the passive form (the material is carbonated). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes a chemical transformation into a specific carbonate compound, whereas sense 2 describes dissolving or bubbling CO₂ into a liquid without necessarily forming a solid salt.
2. to put carbon dioxide gas into a liquid, especially a drink, so that it becomes
to put carbon dioxide gas into a liquid, especially a drink, so that it becomes bubbly or fizzy
The machine carbonates the water in under a minute.
active: machine as subject
Soda water is simply water that has been carbonated.
passive construction: has been carbonated
Yusuf bought a home device that carbonates plain tap water.
The brewery carbonates its ginger beer before bottling it.
Over time, an opened soda loses its carbonated taste as the gas escapes.
- still
describes a drink without bubbles; 'still water' is the opposite of 'carbonated water'
用法筆記
Most frequently used in the passive form (carbonated water, carbonated drinks) or as the past participle adjective describing beverages. The informal register applies mainly to everyday drink contexts; technical descriptions of industrial carbonation use a neutral register. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense adds CO₂ gas to a liquid without forming a solid carbonate compound.