Chapter 3, Problem 126AE

Write Lewis structures for CO₃²⁻, HCO₃⁻, and H₂CO₃. When acid is added to an aqueous solution containing carbonate or bicarbonate ions, carbon dioxide gas is formed. We generally say that carbonic acid (H2C03) is unstable. Use bond energies to estimate ∆E for the reaction (in the gas phase)

${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{CO}}_3\to {\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}+{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$

Specify a possible cause for the instability of carbonic acid.