Pronunciation: [pˌɒlɪbˈe͡ɪsɪk] (IPA) 
The word "Polybasic" is spelled as "pɑːliˈbeɪsɪk". This word means having several acidic groups or basic groups. In the IPA phonetic transcription, the letter "ɑː" represents the sound of "a" in "father", "iˈ" represents "ee" sound in "see" and "sɪk" represents "sick". The letter "ˈ" is a stress mark showing that the stress of the word falls on the second syllable. This word is commonly used in chemistry and other related fields.
Polybasic is an adjective that describes a substance or compound which contains multiple basic, or alkaline, groups. Derived from combining the prefix "poly-" meaning many or multiple, with "basic" referring to a chemical compound that has a pH value greater than 7 and a tendency to donate electrons, polybasic signifies a compound with several active proton donors, or basic functional groups.
In chemistry, a polybasic acid typically contains more than one replaceable hydrogen atom, allowing it to form multiple salt molecules when neutralized. These acids have the capacity to donate multiple protons or hydrogen ions. Polybasic acids are often involved in acid-base reactions and are essential in various chemical processes. Similarly, polybasic compounds with multiple alkaline groups have a high proton-donating capacity, making them effective at neutralizing acidic substances.
In biochemistry, polybasic also refers to proteins or peptides that possess several basic amino acid residues, such as lysine or arginine. These positively charged amino acids are known to participate in diverse protein-protein interactions and play significant roles in cellular processes. The presence of multiple basic residues enhances the affinity of these proteins for nucleic acids or other negatively charged biomolecules.
Overall, polybasic denotes substances or compounds with multiple basic groups, showcasing their ability to donate protons or interact with acidic substances.
Having more than one replaceable hydrogen atom, noting an acid with a basicity greater than 1.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Applied to acids which require two or more equivalents of a base for neutralisation.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "polybasic" is derived from two roots: "poly-" and "-basic".
1. "Poly-" is a prefix that originates from the Greek word "polus", meaning "many" or "much". It is commonly used to indicate multiple or many occurrences of something. For example, in words like "polygamy" (having multiple spouses) or "polytheism" (belief in multiple gods).
2. "-basic" is a suffix that comes from the Greek word "basis", meaning "foundation" or "base". It is often used to describe substances that are alkaline or have a high pH, such as bases in chemistry.
Combining these two elements, "polybasic" refers to something that has multiple bases or foundations. In the context of chemistry, it is often used to describe acids that can donate multiple hydrogen ions (protons) per molecule.
