6 syllables: De, car, box, yl, a, tion. Stress on a.
dee-kahr-bahk-sil-AY-shuhn
/ˌdiːˌkɑɹbɑksɪlˈeɪʃən/
Decarboxylation is pronounced dee-kahr-bahk-sil-AY-shuhn (/ˌdiːˌkɑɹbɑksɪlˈeɪʃən/). It has six syllables (De-car-box-yl-a-tion), with the stress on "a". Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group (CO2) from a molecule, often releasing carbon dioxide. It’s a process used to activate certain compounds, such as in pharmacology and organic synthesis. The term denotes a specific, systematically describeable transformation in reaction mechanisms and stoichiometry.
nounDecarboxylation is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group (CO2) from a molecule, often releasing carbon dioxide. It’s a process used to activate certain compounds, such as in pharmacology and organic synthesis. The term denotes a specific, systematically describeable transformation in reaction mechanisms and stoichiometry.
"The decarboxylation step is crucial for initiating the active form of the drug."
"In the lab, we monitored decarboxylation to avoid loss of material."
"The enzyme-catalyzed decarboxylation converts pyruvate to acetaldehyde during fermentation."
Pronounce as /ˌdiˌkɑːrˌbɒkˌsiːˈleɪʃən/ (US/UK + variations). Primary stress on the fourth syllable: -si- in siˈleɪ-, with secondary stress on the initial di- and -car- clusters. Start with di as in dee, then kark with a light pause before -box-; the -yl- sequence merges into -yə-, then final -tion. You’ll want to emphasize the -lay- in -eɪʃən to signal the ending. For audio, listen to technical pronunciations and match the rhythm of the stressed syllables.
Two common errors: (1) compressing the multi-syllabic sequence and rushing the -kar- and -bax- segments, which makes the word sound slurred. (2) Misplacing the primary stress, often stressing the wrong syllable or flattening -eɪʃən to -ən. Correction: segment as di- | kar- | box- | yə- | leɪ- shən, keeping a brief, deliberate pause between major clusters and clearly articulating the -leɪ- before -ʃən.
In US, you’ll hear di- KAR- bok-si- LAY- shun with a rhotic r and clear -lay-. UK often uses di- KAHR-bok-si- LAY-shuhn with non-rhotic r and a sharper, clipped -tion; AU follows similar to UK but with slightly broader vowels in -box- and a perceptible schwa in -yə- before -ʃən.
The difficulty lies in sequencing five or six syllables with rapid shifts: di- (dɪ) / kɑːr/ (car) / bok/ (bok) / si- (siː) / leɪ- (leɪ) / ʃən (ʃən). The cluster boundaries between -car- and -box- and the mid-word vowel shifts require precise tongue position and breath control, plus distinguishing the -tion ending as -ʃən or -eɪʃən depending on accent. Mastery comes from slow practice, then controlled speed while maintaining the correct syllable stress pattern.
The key is the -box- segment; ensure you do not merge the /k/ and /b/ into a quick bilabial stop. Maintain a clear /k/ then a light /b/ with no vowel intrusion. Additionally, the ending -eɪʃən should be perceived as two units: -eɪ- (long a) and -ʃən (shən). Emphasize the -lay- syllable to anchor the word’s rhythm and avoid truncating the trailing /ʃən/ sound.
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Decarboxylation comes from three parts: the prefix de- meaning removal, the base carboxyl from carboxylic acids (CO2-containing groups), and -ation indicating a process or action. The term traces back to late 19th to early 20th century chemistry nomenclature when systematic naming of reactions became standard. The root carboxyl is from French carbonate abbreviations and Latin carbo- (carbon) plus -oxyl (oxygen). The idea of removing a carboxyl group by releasing CO2 emerged as chemists refined reaction mechanisms and catalytic steps in organic chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology. First documented usage in formal chemical literature appears in the early 1900s, aligning with the maturation of decarbonylation and other functional-group transformations. Over time, decarboxylation broadened to enzymatic contexts, especially in metabolism and fermentation, while remaining a precise term for CO2-removal processes in synthetic schemes and mechanistic discussions.
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Words that rhyme with "Decarboxylation"
-ion sounds
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