Question

How is bicarbonate formed?

Answer 1

Carbonates and bicarbonates are basically salts of carbonic acids.

These anions are formed from carbonic acid, H₂CO₃ by removing H⁺ ions successively as follows:

H₂CO₃ <-------> HCO₃^- + H⁺


Bicarbonates are eventually formed when excess of carbon dioxide is passed into the alkaline solution.

E.g.

NaOH	+	CO2	<------>	NaHCO3
		excess		sparingly soluble in cold water

NaHCO3 further liberates Na+ and HCO3- ( Bicarbonates)