Which acid is produced when carbon dioxide dissolves in water?

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Multiple Choice

Which acid is produced when carbon dioxide dissolves in water?

Explanation:
When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3) because CO2 reacts with water to produce H2CO3 (CO2 + H2O ⇌ H2CO3). Carbonic acid is a weak acid, so it only partially dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate: H2CO3 ⇌ H+ + HCO3-. This gives the solution a mild acidity. The other acids listed would require different chemical species (like Cl-, NO3-, or acetate) and aren’t produced just by dissolving CO2 in water.

When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3) because CO2 reacts with water to produce H2CO3 (CO2 + H2O ⇌ H2CO3). Carbonic acid is a weak acid, so it only partially dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate: H2CO3 ⇌ H+ + HCO3-. This gives the solution a mild acidity. The other acids listed would require different chemical species (like Cl-, NO3-, or acetate) and aren’t produced just by dissolving CO2 in water.

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