Question

What does the reaction of CO2(g) + H2O(l) produce?

I know that CO2(g) + H2O(l) --> H2CO3(aq), but I was wondering how to get there.

Answer 1

How about this?

Explanation:

Step 1.

The `δ^"-"` oxygen in a water molecule attacks the `δ^"+"` carbon in a `"CO"_2` molecule.

Step 2.

A second water molecule deprotonates the newly-formed oxonium ion.

Step 3

The newly formed hydronium ion transfers a proton to the negatively-charged oxygen atom that was formed in the first step.