Bicarbonate ion
Charge: 1- · Type: Polyatomic anion · Molar mass: 61.016 g/mol
Made of: hydrogen, carbon, oxygen
How it forms
Carbonic acid loses one proton to give HCO3-. Losing a second proton gives carbonate, so bicarbonate sits in the middle of the carbonic acid buffer system that keeps blood pH near 7.4.
Naming note
HCO3- is the bicarbonate ion, also called hydrogen carbonate. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate (sodium hydrogen carbonate).
Examples in compounds
Sodium bicarbonate
Potassium bicarbonate
Calcium bicarbonate