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Glite Dictionary
potassium bicarbonate

potassium bicarbonate

5.6
A white powder that makes baked goods rise and reduces stomach acid
  • noun
  • /pəˈtæsiəm baɪˈkɑːrbəneɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bicarbonato de potasio
  • Bakers sometimes substitute potassium bicarbonate for baking soda to reduce sodium content in recipes.

Examples

  • Doctors may recommend potassium bicarbonate to treat mild cases of acid indigestion.

  • I added potassium bicarbonate to the cake batter.

  • The laboratory stocks several chemicals, including potassium bicarbonate for use in experiments.

  • You can use potassium bicarbonate as a natural antacid.

  • Bakers sometimes substitute potassium bicarbonate for baking soda to reduce sodium content in recipes.

  • You can use potassium bicarbonate as a natural antacid to relieve heartburn.

  • Adding potassium bicarbonate to the cake batter helps it rise and become fluffy.

Synonyms

potassium hydrogen carbonate
vspotassium bicarbonate
  • Specialized
4.5

A white salt used in baking and to reduce stomach acid

has the same meaning but is the common baking name
potassium acid carbonate
vspotassium bicarbonate
  • Specialized
7.1

A salt that makes cakes rise in baking powder and calms stomach acid

has the same meaning but is the usual name in recipes

Surface Forms

potassium bicarbonate singular
potassium bicarbonates plural

Morphology

potassium + bicarbonate

The name is fully compositional: it denotes the bicarbonate salt of the element potassium. A B1 learner who knows 'potassium' (an element) and 'bicarbonate' (a type of salt) can infer it is a chemical compound (a crystalline salt), so the meaning is transparently derived from its constituents.

Etymology

Potassium bicarbonate is simply named: it is made of potassium and bicarbonate, and appears as a white powder that releases gas when heated to help dough 'rise'. That's why cooks use it as a baking agent and why doctors sometimes recommend it to reduce stomach acid.