What is the difference between carbonate and bicarbonate?

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Answer 1

Apr 26, 2016

#HCO_3^-# versus #CO_3^(2-)" bicarbonate versus carbonate."#

The #"bi"# prefix generally means the addition of #H^+#. Bisulfate #HSO_4^-#, bisulfite, #HSO_3^-#, biphosphate, #HPO_4^(2-)#.

Bicarbonate salts are generally soluble, much more so than the carbonates.