Is a carbonate a type of base?

Question

I know an alkali is a type of base (a soluble base), but is a carbonate one? If a chemical compound has the suffix -carbonate or -bicarbonate, does it mean it is a base?

Answer 1

Yes, because carbonates (and hydrogencarbonates / bicarbonates) can accept protons, aka H+ ions. This is the definition of a base.

Answer 2

Some carbonate compounds dissolve in water to make basic solutions.   Carbonate compound will react with acids to produce a salt, carbon dioxide gas and water

Na2CO3(aq) + 2HCl(aq)  --> 2NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

No the word carbonate does not mean "base", nor does the "bi".

Carbonate compounds contain the CO3^2- polyatomic ion.  The bicarbonate polyatomic ion is HCO3-.  Many compound (salts) will dissolve in water to produce either an acidic or basic solution.  This is called hydrolysis.  Hydrolysis is a "reaction with water".

This is why carbonate compound will produce basic solutions.  When the carbonate hydrolyzes it produces the bicarbonate ion and hydroxide ion.  The hydroxide ion makes the solution basic.

CO3^2- + H2O <==> HCO3- + OH-

The carbonate ion may be in sodium carbonate or some other alkali metal carbonate.  Otherwise, most carbonate salts are insoluble in water.

By the same token, sodium bicarbonate is soluble in water and the bicarbonate will hydrolyze to make hydroxide ions.

HCO3- + H2O <==> CO2 + H2O + OH-

or simply

HCO3- <==> CO2 + OH-

Answer 3

Yes, acids are neutralised by carbonates to produce a salt and carbon dioxide and water