Question

carbonic acid (h_{2}co_{3}) is a polyprotic acid. write balanced chemical equations for the sequence of reactions that carbonic acid can undergo when its dissolved in water.

Explanation:

Step1: First ionization

Carbonic acid (\(H_{2}CO_{3}\)) donates one \(H^{+}\) to water (\(H_{2}O\)).

$$H_{2}CO_{3}(aq)+H_{2}O(l) ightleftharpoons H_{3}O^{+}(aq)+HCO_{3}^{-}(aq)$$

Step2: Second ionization

The bicarbonate ion (\(HCO_{3}^{-}\)) donates one \(H^{+}\) to water (\(H_{2}O\)).

$$HCO_{3}^{-}(aq)+H_{2}O(l) ightleftharpoons H_{3}O^{+}(aq)+CO_{3}^{2 - }(aq)$$

Answer:

$$H_{2}CO_{3}(aq)+H_{2}O(l) ightleftharpoons H_{3}O^{+}(aq)+HCO_{3}^{-}(aq)$$

$$HCO_{3}^{-}(aq)+H_{2}O(l) ightleftharpoons H_{3}O^{+}(aq)+CO_{3}^{2 - }(aq)$$