Question

What is the product of the reaction between carbon dioxide and water?

Short answer

The product is carbonic acid (\(\text{H}_2\text{CO}_3\)).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Reactants

The reactants in this chemical reaction are carbon dioxide (\(\text{CO}_2\)) and water (\(\text{H}_2\text{O}\)). These are the starting substances that will undergo a chemical change.

Recall the Reaction Type

The reaction between carbon dioxide and water is a type of chemical reaction known as a synthesis or combination reaction. In this context, it specifically forms a weak acid.

Write the Chemical Equation

Reacting carbon dioxide with water forms carbonic acid. This can be represented by the balanced chemical equation:\[\text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3\]Here, carbonic acid (\(\text{H}_2\text{CO}_3\)) is the product.

Verify the Balanced Equation

Count the number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation to ensure it's balanced. There is one carbon, three oxygens, and two hydrogens on each side, confirming that the equation is balanced.

Key concepts

Synthesis Reaction

In chemistry, a synthesis reaction is a type of chemical reaction where two or more simple substances combine to form a more complex product. This type of reaction is also known as a combination reaction. During a synthesis reaction, the reactants can be elements or compounds and the product will always be a compound.

An example of a synthesis reaction is when carbon dioxide (\(\text{CO}_2\)) and water (\(\text{H}_2\text{O}\)) combine to form carbonic acid (\(\text{H}_2\text{CO}_3\)).

These reactions:

• Often result in a single product.
• Are generally exothermic, releasing energy.
• Involve the formation of new chemical bonds.

Synthesis reactions are important in both biological processes, like photosynthesis, and industrial applications, such as the production of ammonia.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is vital to life on Earth. It has a simple chemical formula of \(\text{CO}_2\).

Here are some key points about carbon dioxide:

• It consists of one carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms.
• It is produced through processes such as respiration, combustion, and decomposition.
• It is absorbed by plants during photosynthesis to create carbohydrates.

In the context of chemical reactions, carbon dioxide acts as a reactant in the synthesis of carbonic acid when mixed with water. This process occurs naturally in the environment, such as in the formation of caves and the effervescence in carbonated beverages.

Water

Water is one of the most abundant compounds on Earth and is essential for all known forms of life. Its chemical formula is \(\(\text{H}_2\text{O}\)\). It is a simple molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom.

Water plays numerous roles in chemical reactions:

• As a solvent, it dissolves numerous substances, making them available for chemical reactions.
• Acts as a reactant, as seen in the synthesis of carbonic acid.
• Can act as a product in many reactions, such as combustion.

In the synthesis reaction with carbon dioxide, water helps form carbonic acid, demonstrating its vital role in facilitating chemical transformations.

Carbonic Acid

Carbonic acid (\(\text{H}_2\text{CO}_3\)) is a weak acid that forms when carbon dioxide is dissolved in water. This substance is central to many natural and industrial processes.

Key characteristics of carbonic acid include:

• It is a weak acid, meaning it does not completely dissociate in water.
• Plays a role in regulating blood pH in living organisms by acting as a buffer.
• Is involved in the natural carbon cycle, affecting ocean acidity.

Carbonic acid's formation is essential in systems like human blood, where it maintains pH balance, and in the environment, where it contributes to geological processes and impacts aquatic life.