How does carbon dioxide change the acid-base condition of a solution?
1 Answer
The presence of carbon dioxide will increase a solution's acidity because of the formation of carbonic acid.
When carbon dioxide dissolves in aqueous solution, it reacts with water to form carbonic acid,
http://s1109.photobucket.com/user/csoeder/media/acidification/carbonates.png.html
and
The carbonate acid will then release either one or both of its protons, producing bicarbonate,
http://s1109.photobucket.com/user/csoeder/media/acidification/carbonates.png.html
This is essentially the process responsible for ocean acidification.
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