Carbonic+acid

Carbonic acid appears frequently in the natural world. It can be found in sodas, champagne, and blood. The acid even appears in rain. During the making of soda, carbon dioxide is dissolved in water which creates carbonic acid. This acid, along with phosphoric acid and other acids, provides the tart taste in many sodas. It also provides a slight burning sensation that a person feels when ingesting a fizzy drink. Acids are defined as any substance that releases hydrogen ions into solutions. Bases are accepts those hydrogen ions. When excess hydrogen ions build up in the body then bicarbonate ions accepts those extra hydrogen ions and keeps the body’s pH at a normal level. If the hydrogen ion levels drop too much then carbonic acid gives up hydrogen ions in order to keep the blood’s pH normal. Carbonic acid even appears as a normal occurrence in rain. As rainwater falls through the air, it absorbs carbon dioxide, producing carbonic acid. Thus, when it reaches the ground, it has a pH of about 5.5. Carbonic acid forms two kinds of salts (HCO3- and (CO3)2-) in solution. Carbonic acid produces carbon dioxide by a degradation reaction in a higher temperature.
 * Carbonic acid** is an inorganic compound with the structure: H2CO3. Carbonic acid is the by-product of Carbon Dioxide mixed with water, which means carbonic acid is often referred to as carbon dioxide in water. It is a weak acid.


 * What does Carbonic Acid do?**


 * In the blood stream:**

Transports CO2 out of the blood stream through the respiratory gas exchange. This reaction is reversed by the lungs which takes the bicarbonate and converts it back into CO2 gas and allows the body to exhale the CO2. Carbonic acid performs life saving chemistry and is important.

The extra dissolved carbon dioxide has caused the ocean's average surface pH to shift by about 0.1 unit from pre-industrial levels. This process is known as ocean acidification
 * Role in Ocean Chemistry**