Everything about Bicarbonate totally explained
In
inorganic chemistry,
bicarbonate (
IUPAC-recommended nomenclature:
hydrogencarbonate) is an intermediate form in the
deprotonation of
carbonic acid.
Bicarbonate serves a crucial biochemical role in the physiological
pH buffering system.
Chemical properties
The
bicarbonate ion (hydrogen carbonate) is an
anion with the
empirical formula HCO3− and a molecular mass of 61.01
daltons; it consists of one central carbon
atom surrounded by three oxygen atoms in a
trigonal planar arrangement, with a hydrogen atom attached to one of the oxygens. The bicarbonate ion carries a negative one
formal charge and is the
conjugate base of
carbonic acid, H
2CO
3; it's the
conjugate acid of CO
32−, the
carbonate ion as shown by these
equilibrium reactions.
CO
32− +2 H
2O ⇋
HCO3− + H
2O + OH
− ⇋ H
2CO
3 +2 OH
−
H
2CO
3 +2 H
2O ⇋
HCO3− + H
3O
+ + H
2O ⇋ CO
32− +2 H
3O
+
A bicarbonate salt forms when a positively charged ion attaches to the negatively charged oxygen atoms of the ion, forming an ionic
compound. Many bicarbonates are
soluble in
water at
standard temperature and pressure, particularly
sodium bicarbonate and
magnesium bicarbonate; both of these substances contribute to
total dissolved solids, a common parameter for assessing
water quality.
Biochemical role
Bicarbonate is an
alkaline, and a vital component of the
pH buffering system
Other uses
The most common salt of the bicarbonate ion is
sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO
3, which is used as
baking soda. When exposed to an
acid such as
acetic acid (
vinegar), sodium bicarbonate releases
carbon dioxide. This is used as a
leavening agent in
baking.
The flow of bicarbonate ions from rocks weathered by the carbonic acid in rainwater is an important part of the
carbon cycle.
Bicarbonate also serves in the digestive system. It raises the internal pH of the stomach, after highly acidic digestive juices have finished in their digestion of food.
Diagnostics
In
diagnostic medicine, the
blood value of bicarbonate is one of several indicators of the state of
acid-base physiology in the body.
The parameter
Standard bicarbonate concentration (SBC
e) is the bicarbonate concentration in the blood at a
CO2 of 5.33kPa, full oxygen saturation and 37 degrees
Celsius.
Bicarbonate compounds
Further Information
Get more info on 'Bicarbonate'.
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