Equilibrium Equation

[bobbysgirl]

I am just starting chemistry and i do not know what my instructor wants.
Write an equilibrium equation for the reaction of CO₂ with water to produce carbonic acid and then bicarbonate and H+.

What I have come up with is: H₂CO₃=H+ + HCO₃-. This really does not look right. Can anyone help me with this?
Thank you in advance.

[sharan]

Hey it should be like this, since carbonic acid is diprotic acid and when it dissociates, first it loses its first proton and then it loses its second proton.
CO₂ + H₂O ⇌ H₂CO₃
H₂CO₃ ⇌ (equilibrium sign) HCO₃− + H+

Carbonic acid giving off bicarbonate and proton (H+).

You are done i think till this point.

Bicarbonate gives off carbonate ions and hyrogen ion.
HCO₃− ⇌ CO₃₂− + H+

hope it helps,

-Sharan