Is Bicarbonate and hydrogenCarbonate the same?

What does the prefix "Bi" mean when naming polyatomic ions?
On my sheet of ions, it states "hydrogen carbonate: HCO3-"
But ive also seen that the "Bi" suffix means an added hydrogen, so wouldn't it be the same thing as HCO3-?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 14, 2018

You got it...

Explanation:

#HCO_3^(-)-="bicarbonate ion"-="hydrogen carbonate..."#

And if we look at the Lewis structures...

#H-O-C(=O)(-O^-), "bicarbonate"#

#(O=)C(-O^-)_2, "carbonate"#

Clearly, they are conjugate acid and base....

The name #"bicarbonate ion"# derives from the initial experiments, where #Na_2CO_3# was distinguished from #NaHCO_3# given that there were TWICE as much carbonate content in the latter as compared to the former.

#"Biphosphates"#, #HPO_4^(-)#, and #"bisulfates"# #HSO_4^(-)#, and #"bisulfites"# #HSO_3^(-)# are also known...but #"bioxide"# is called what?

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