Bicarbonate
The bicarbonate anion is formed with a carbon double-bonded to an oxygen, single-bonded to a hydroxide group, which here is neutral, and single-bonded to another oxygen which requires one more electron to complete its outer shell. Here, the sodium cation provides the electron, resulting in a net -1 charge.
Bicarbonate is an anion (a negatively-charged ion). Its chemical formula is HCO3−. It reacts with acids to produce carbon dioxide. A sample compound is sodium bicarbonate. It forms carbonate when heated.
Bicarbonate Media
CO2 produced as a waste product of the oxidation of sugars in the mitochondria reacts with water in a reaction catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase to form H2CO3, which is in equilibrium with the cation H+ and anion HCO3−. It is then carried to the lung, where the reverse reaction occurs and CO2 gas is released.
Reference ranges for blood tests, comparing blood content of bicarbonate (shown in blue at right) with other constituents.
Related pages
Bicarbonate compounds
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Potassium bicarbonate
- Calcium bicarbonate
- Ammonium bicarbonate
- Carbonic acid
