Question

Hco3 can act as both Bronsted acid and Bronsted base?explain.

Answer 1

HCO3- (known as bicarbonate) is the conjugate base of H2CO3, a weak acid, and the conjugate acid of the carbonate ion. HCO3- acts as a base when mixed with a compound that is more acidic than itself (larger Ka) and as an acid when mixed with a compound that is more basic than itself (smaller Ka).

Acidity (Ka) & Basicity (Kb) Constants and The Conjugate Seesaw (Ka x Kb = Kw)