What are the conjugate acid and conjugate base of the bicarbonate ion HCO3?

The bicarbonate ion (HCO₃^–) has both a conjugate acid and a conjugate base.

The conjugate acid of bicarbonate is carbonic acid (H₂CO₃). When bicarbonate acts as a base, it can accept a proton (H⁺), forming carbonic acid. This reaction can be represented as:

HCO₃^– + H⁺ → H₂CO₃

On the other hand, the conjugate base of bicarbonate is the carbonate ion (CO₃^2-). When bicarbonate donates a proton, it transforms into the carbonate ion. This can be illustrated as:

HCO₃^– → CO₃^2- + H⁺

In summary, the bicarbonate ion (HCO₃^–) serves as an important buffer in biological systems and can act either as an acid or a base, depending on the chemical environment.