Question
3 Apply Concepts When carbon dioxide, CO_(2) dissolves in water, some of the CO_(2) molecules react with water.This forms carbonate ions and hydronium ions.Will a solution of CO_(2) in water be acidic, basic, or neutral? Explain your answer.
Answer
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(307 Votes)
Aurora
Elite · Tutor for 8 years
Answer
### Acidic
Explanation
## Step 1: Dissolution of CO
in Water### When carbon dioxide (CO
) dissolves in water, it reacts with water molecules to form carbonic acid (H
CO
).### The chemical equation for this reaction is:
## Step 2: Formation of Ions### Carbonic acid (H
CO
) is a weak acid and partially dissociates in water to form hydronium ions (H
O
) and bicarbonate ions (HCO
).### The dissociation reaction is:
## Step 3: Effect on pH### The presence of hydronium ions (H
O
) increases the acidity of the solution, resulting in a decrease in pH.### Therefore, the solution becomes acidic.#