What is Carbonic Acid?
Carbonic acid is a chemical compound made of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and hydrogen as its elements. It is a weak acid with the chemical formula H2CO3. It is formed when carbon dioxide is dissolved in water. Carbonic acid is a diprotic acid, which means it can form two types of salts: carbonate and bicarbonate. Carbonic Acid is also known as dihydrogen carbonate (because it is made of two hydrogen atoms and a carbonate ion), aerial acid (or acid of air), Oxidocarboxylic acid, Hydroxyformic acid, etc.
It was discovered by the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier in the late 18th century. He found that when carbon dioxide reacts with water an acidic solution is formed which he named as carbonic acid.
Carbonic Acid (H2CO3)
Carbonic Acid is an inorganic, weak, and unstable acid. The molecule of Carbonic Acid consists of one carbon atom, two hydrogen atoms, and three oxygen atoms. Carbonic Acid is also referred to as a respiratory acid as it is the only acid that is exhaled in the gaseous state by human lungs.
Carbonic acid is studied majorly in various fields of science because of its vast applications and uses. It helps improve marine life due to its natural process of ocean acidification. It is essential for the human body as well. Further in this article, we will learn more about carbonic acids, their structure, their properties, and their uses.
Table of Content
- What is Carbonic Acid?
- Formula of Carbonic Acid
- Structure of Carbonic Acid
- Preparation of Carbonic Acid
- Properties of Carbonic Acid
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