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Removal of a carboxylic acid group from acidic cannabinoids in order to convert them to a neutral form.
Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group and releases carbon dioxide (CO2). Usually, decarboxylation refers to a reaction of carboxylic acids, removing a carbon atom from a carbon chain. The reverse process, which is the first chemical step in photosynthesis, is called carboxylation, the addition of CO2 to a compound. Enzymes that catalyze decarboxylations are called decarboxylases or, the more formal term, carboxy-lyases (EC number 4.1.1).

English
Etymology
From de- + carboxylate.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /diːkɑːˈbɒksɪleɪt/
Verb
decarboxylate (third-person singular simple present decarboxylates, present participle decarboxylating, simple past and past participle decarboxylated)
- (organic chemistry) To remove one or more carboxyl groups from a molecule
Derived terms
Related terms
- decarboxylation