Carbonic acid

<p>Carbonic acid is a <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">chemical compound</a> with the chemical formula <a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">H</a>2<a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">C</a><a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">O</a>3. The <a href="/facts/Molecule/N9ljSfFq">molecule</a> rapidly converts to <a href="/facts/Water/0lkXnJPK">water</a> and <a href="/facts/Carbon_dioxide/xGzpppEp">carbon dioxide</a> in the presence of water. However, in the absence of water, it is quite stable at <a href="/facts/Room_temperature/YHwUIUTE">room temperature</a>. The interconversion of carbon dioxide and carbonic acid is related to the breathing cycle of animals and the <a href="/facts/Ocean_acidification/GE7MrSPj">acidification of natural waters</a>.
</p><p>In biochemistry and physiology, the name "carbonic acid" is sometimes applied to <a href="/facts/Properties_of_water/FFsl65l1">aqueous solutions</a> of <a href="/facts/Carbon_dioxide/xGzpppEp">carbon dioxide</a>. These <a href="/facts/Chemical_species/A8BxM3oW">chemical species</a> play an important role in the <a href="/facts/Bicarbonate_buffer_system/d0TtLqVx">bicarbonate buffer system</a>, used to maintain <a href="/facts/Acid%E2%80%93base_homeostasis/y4U6UENE">acid–base homeostasis</a>.
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Carbonic acid open-in-new

Carbonic acid