Vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid (HC2H3O2). Carbonated water is a solution of carbonic acid (H2CO3). Write equations to show the ionization of each acid when placed into water. Note: both of these acids are weak acids. Weak acids ionize one hydrogen ion at a time if more than one hydrogen found in the chemical formula. Include the states of matter and balance the equations.
Here's how I would write the equations.
The acidic hydrogen atoms are at the beginning of the formulas. The other hydrogen atoms are not acidic.
The water removes an acidic hydrogen ( #"H"^"+"# ) from the acid and becomes a hydronium ion ( #"H"_3"O"^"+"# ).
The acid that has lost the #"H"^"+"# (the conjugate base) then gets a negative charge.
We write the equation as an equilibrium because both the forward and reverse processes are occurring at the same time.
Acetic acid
Carbonic acid
Carbonic acid ionizes in two steps.
