a. [ Cf. F. carbonique. See Carbon. ] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, carbon; as, carbonic oxide. [ 1913 Webster ]

Carbonic acid (Chem.), an acid HO.CO.OH, not existing separately, which, combined with positive or basic atoms or radicals, forms carbonates. In common language the term is very generally applied to a compound of carbon and oxygen, CO2, more correctly called carbon dioxide. It is a colorless, heavy, irrespirable gas, extinguishing flame, and when breathed destroys life. It can be reduced to a liquid and solid form by intense pressure. It is produced in the fermentation of liquors, and by the combustion and decomposition of organic substances, or other substances containing carbon. It is formed in the explosion of fire damp in mines, and is hence called after damp; it is also know as choke damp, and mephitic air. Water will absorb its own volume of it, and more than this under pressure, and in this state becomes the common soda water of the shops, and the carbonated water of natural springs. Combined with lime it constitutes limestone, or common marble and chalk. Plants imbibe it for their nutrition and growth, the carbon being retained and the oxygen given out. --
Carbonic oxide (Chem.), a colorless gas, CO, of a light odor, called more correctly carbon monoxide. It is almost the only definitely known compound in which carbon seems to be divalent. It is a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon, and is an abundant constituent of water gas. It is fatal to animal life, extinguishes combustion, and burns with a pale blue flame, forming carbon dioxide. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A carbide. [ R. ]

a. [ Carbon + -ferous. ] Producing or containing carbon or coal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Carboniferous age (Geol.), the age immediately following the Devonian, or Age of fishes, and characterized by the vegetation which formed the coal beds. This age embraces three periods, the Subcarboniferous, the Carboniferous, and Permian. See Age of acrogens, under Acrogen. --
Carboniferous formation (Geol.), the series of rocks (including sandstones, shales, limestones, and conglomerates, with beds of coal) which make up the strata of the Carboniferous age or Carboniferous period. See the Diagram under Geology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. same as carbonization. [ PJC ]

n. [ Carbon + -ite. ] 1. An explosive consisting essentially of nitroglycerin, wood meal, and some nitrate, as that of sodium. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. An explosive composed of nitrobenzene, saltpeter, sulphur, and kieselguhr. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. F. carbonisation. ] 1. The act or process of carbonizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. the destructive distillation of coal (as in coke ovens).
Syn. -- carbonisation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Carbonized p. pr. & vb. n. Carbonizing. ] [ Cf. F. carboniser. ] 1. To convert (an animal or vegetable substance) into a residue of carbon by the action of fire or some corrosive agent; to char. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To impregnate or combine with carbon, as in making steel by cementation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The action or process of depriving a substance of carbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Decarbonized p. pr. & vb. n. Decarbonizing. ] To deprive of carbon; as, to decarbonize steel; to decarbonize the blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Decarbonized iron. See Malleable iron. --
Decarbonized steel, homogenous wrought iron made by a steel process, as that of Bessemer; ingot iron. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. He who, or that which, decarbonizes a substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. di- + carbonic. ] (Chem.) Containing two carbon residues, or two carboxyl groups or radicals; as, oxalic acid is the simplest dicarbonic acid. In the latter sense, synonymous with dicarboxylic; as, succinic acid is a dicarboxylic acid. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. [ Mono- + carbonic. ] (Chem.) Containing one carboxyl group; as, acetic acid is a monocarbonic acid. The more common term is monocarboxylic. Contrasted with dicarboxylic, tricarboxylic, etc. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. [ Ortho- + carbonic. ] (Chem.) Designating a complex ether, C.(OC2H5)4, which is obtained as a liquid of a pleasant ethereal odor by means of chlorpicrin, and is believed to be a derivative of the hypothetical normal carbonic acid, C.(OH)4. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Metal.) To restore carbon to; as, to recarbonize iron in converting it into steel. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the lowest division of the Carboniferous formations underlying the proper coal measures. It was a marine formation characterized in general by beds of limestone. -- n. The Subcarboniferous period or formation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a sulphacid, H2CSO2 (called also thiocarbonic acid), or an acid, H2CS3, analogous to carbonic acid, obtained as a yellow oily liquid of a pungent odor, and forming salts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Thio- + carbonic. ] (Chem.) Same as Sulphocarbonic. [ 1913 Webster ]