Question

When carbonic acid is formed by a chemical reaction, it can release what into the water ? How does it break down and how does it effect the acidity of the water?

Answer 1

Carbonic acid is formed from the reaction between Carbon dioxide and Water.

H20+ CO2—> H2CO3

The Carbonic acid then undergoes a dissociation reaction to give the products:

1) hydrogen ion (H+)

2)hydrogen carbonate ion (HCO3-)

H2CO3—> H+ + HCO3-

The H+ ion formed from the dissociation is what reacts with the water and lowers the pH as a result of the increase in the power of hydrogen ions which subsequently lowers the pH of the water thereby making it acidic.