Question

An aqueous solution of carbonic acid ($H_{2}C{O}_3$) contains

• A. ($H_{2}C{O}_3)only$
• B. $H_{2}C{O}_3,H^{+},HC{O}_3^{-}$
• C. $H_{2}C{O}_3,H^{+},HC{O}_3^{-},C{O}_3^{2-}$
• D. $H_{2}C{O}_3,C{O}_2,H^{+},HC{O}_3^{-},C{O}_3^{2-}$

Answer 1

The correct option is D

$H_{2}C{O}_3,C{O}_2,H^{+},HC{O}_3^{-},C{O}_3^{2-}$

The ionization happens through multiple steps. It never happens in a single step (for acids with more than one acidic Hydrogen atoms in a molecule)

$H_{2}C{O}_3$ ⇌$C{O}_2$ + $H_2$O
$H_{2}C{O}_3$⇌${HC{O}_3}^{-}$ + $H^{+}$
$HC{O}_3$-⇌$C{O}_{3}2-$ + $H^{+}$

Hence, d