What is the acid in bronsted-Lowry reaction H20 + CO3 -2 -> HCO3- + OH-?

Question

What is the acid in bronsted-Lowry reaction H20 + CO3 -2 -> HCO3- + OH-?

Answer 1

CO3= + HOH <==> HCO3- + OH-

The BL acid is water.  It donates a H+ to carbonate ion.  The carbonate ion is the proton acceptor, the BL base.

By the way, the bicarbonate ion is the conjugate acid, and hydroxide is the conjugate base.  The best way to determine the conjugate acid and base is to look at the reverse reaction and see what donates a proton, and what accepts a proton, to make the reactants.  Acids and conjugate acids are both proton donors.

Answer 2

Bronsted-Lowery states that acids are proton doners.  HOH (H2O), donted a H+ to form HCO3- and OH-.

Answer 3

Bronsted-Lowry acids donate protons while Bronsted-Lowry bases accept protons. In this reaction, H2O donates a proton so its the Bronsted-Lowry acid. The  HCO3- accepts the proton and therefore is the Bronsted-Lowry base.

Answer 4

The proton donor/electron acceptor is the acid.