Chem. Obs. Also tartarite. [a. F. tartrite (1787), f. F. tartre, TARTAR1 (whence the earlier tartarite): see -ITE1.] A salt of tartarous or tartareous acid. (As this is now tartaric acid, the tartrites are now called tartrates.)
1790. Kerr, Lavoisier’s Elem. Chem., 255. As the acid from tartar is not fully saturated with oxygen, we call it tartarous acid, and the neutral salts formed by its combinations with salifiable bases tartarites. Ibid. Cream of tartar … in our new nomenclature is named acidulous tartarite of potash.
1794. G. Pearson, in Phil. Trans., LXXXIV. 396. From the precipitation of tartrite of pot-ash … this acid might be supposed to be the tartareous.
