Chemistry
Bicarbonate is an ion with the chemical formula HCO3–. In the presence of water, it results in the following reactions:
(i) HCO3–(aq) + H2O(l) → H2CO3(aq) + OH–(aq)
(ii) HCO3–(aq) + H2O(l) → CO32–(aq) + H3O+(aq)
In the above reactions, the bicarbonate ion acts as _____.
In the above reactions, the bicarbonate ion acts as both an acid and a base.
In reaction (i), HCO3- acts as a base because it accepts a proton (H+) from water to form the hydronium ion (H3O+) and hydroxide ion (OH-).
In reaction (ii), HCO3- acts as an acid because it donates a proton (H+) to water to form the carbonate ion (CO32-) and hydronium ion (H3O+).
Thus, the bicarbonate ion can either accept or donate a proton, depending on the reaction conditions, making it both an acid and a base.