When carbonate reacts with an acid, the products include which of the following?

When carbonate reacts with an acid, the products include which of the following?

• A. Salt + water + carbon dioxide
• B. Salt + water
• C. Water only
• D. Hydrogen gas

Answer: (A)

When carbonate reacts with an acid, it behaves as a base reacting with the acid to form a salt, water, and carbon dioxide. The acid provides hydrogen ions that neutralize the carbonate ion, giving carbon dioxide and water: CO3^2− + 2H+ → CO2 + H2O. The salt comes from the metal (or other positive ion) from the carbonate and the negative ion from the acid. So the products are a salt, water, and carbon dioxide gas, which you can often see as bubbling. Hydrogen gas isn’t produced in this reaction because the protons are used to form water rather than hydrogen gas.

When carbonate reacts with an acid, it behaves as a base reacting with the acid to form a salt, water, and carbon dioxide. The acid provides hydrogen ions that neutralize the carbonate ion, giving carbon dioxide and water: CO3^2− + 2H+ → CO2 + H2O. The salt comes from the metal (or other positive ion) from the carbonate and the negative ion from the acid. So the products are a salt, water, and carbon dioxide gas, which you can often see as bubbling. Hydrogen gas isn’t produced in this reaction because the protons are used to form water rather than hydrogen gas.