What is Carbonic Acid?

Anyone know what carbonic acid is? Just sharing this time in the article below will discuss about carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is a weak acid compound. For more details, let us consider the following description.

Carbonic acid is an organic acid with the chemical formula H₂CO₃. Carbonic acid, including weak acids. When carbon dioxide (CO₂) dissolves in water (H2O) it will produce carbonic acid.

CO₂ + H₂O H₂CO₃.

H₂CO₃ is a carbonic acid (carbonic acid compound) that is useful for regulating the pH (acidity level) in the blood. The blood itself is a buffer (a solution that can maintain pH) with its weak acid in the form of ionized H₂CO₃ in water to form H + ions and its conjugate base in the form of bicarbonate ions (HCO₃-.).

A base is a chemical compound that accepts hydrogen ions. For example, the bicarbonate ion HCO₃-, is a base because it can accept H + ions to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃). In short the body uses a buffer of pH (buffer) in the blood as a protector against changes that occur suddenly in the pH of the blood. If we consume food or drinks that contain H₂CO₃ (carbonic acid) which affects the acidity in the blood becomes more acidic than it should be so that the pH in the blood decreases. This situation is called acidosis.

The effect of this is that breathing becomes deeper and faster because the body tries to reduce excess acid in the blood by lowering carbon dioxide. It is certain when we breathe breathlessly. Besides the kidneys are also trying hard to neutralize the situation by removing more acid in the urine. But if the body continues to consume H₂CO₃ in excessive amounts, the kidneys will not be able to work again so that severe acidosis will occur.

If it continues then the sufferer will feel extreme fatigue, drowsiness, nausea and confusion. If acidosis is not handled properly then blood pressure will decrease, shock, coma and even cause death.

Although carbonic acid is acidic, it is also widely used in carbonated drinks as we find it in various types of soft drinks. The resulting acid effect can occur if it takes place at high acid concentrations resulting in a low pH solution condition. Because carbonic acid is a weak acid, the pH of the solution will not occur very low either. At low concentrations, the acidic effect can occur if it is in constant contact. This can occur as in the case of people who often consume soft drinks, there will be the effects of tooth decay or stomach irritation.