bichromate
|bi-chro-mate|
/ˈbaɪkrəmeɪt/
two-linked chromate (salt)
Etymology
'bichromate' originates from the prefix 'bi-' (from Latin/Greek, meaning 'two' or 'double') combined with 'chromate' (from Greek 'chroma' meaning 'color'), formed in modern chemical nomenclature in the 19th century.
'bichromate' developed from chemical naming conventions in French and English (19th century) where 'bi-' was used to indicate a species related to chromate; it has been used interchangeably with 'dichromate' for the ion now commonly called the dichromate ion (Cr2O7^2−).
Initially used to indicate a relation to two chromate units or a hydrogenated form in older chemical naming, the term came to be used synonymously with 'dichromate' (the Cr2O7^2− ion) in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a salt containing the dichromate ion (Cr2O7^2−); often used to refer to compounds such as potassium bichromate (K2Cr2O7), commonly employed as an oxidizing agent in laboratories and some industrial processes.
Potassium bichromate is a common laboratory oxidizing agent.
Synonyms
Verb 1
to treat or combine (a substance) with a bichromate or to convert (a substance) into a bichromate salt.
The technician bichromated the glass samples before analysis.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/11 03:56