What does the reaction of CO2(g) + H2O(l) produce?

I know that CO2(g) + H2O(l) --> H2CO3(aq), but I was wondering how to get there.

1 Answer
Feb 11, 2017

How about this?

Explanation:

Step 1.

The #δ^"-"# oxygen in a water molecule attacks the #δ^"+"# carbon in a #"CO"_2# molecule.

Step 1

Step 2.

A second water molecule deprotonates the newly-formed oxonium ion.

Step 2

Step 3

The newly formed hydronium ion transfers a proton to the negatively-charged oxygen atom that was formed in the first step.

Step 3