Metal carbonates (such as: CaCO3, Na2CO3 etc) are ACIDIC in nature or BASIC? Thanks

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1 Answer
anor277
Jan 13, 2016

Carbonate salts are weakly basic.

Explanation:

#CO_3^(2-) + H_2O rightleftharpoons HCO_3^(-) + OH^-#

At equilibrium, a small concentration of hydroxide will be present. The #Ca^(2+)# and #Na^(+)# counterions are simply along for the ride, and do not influence #pH#.

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