b. dissociation of compounds Acids are defined as proton (hydrogen ion) donors. The process of a hydrogen ion dis- associating itself from an acid is called dissociation. Carbonic acid has two hydrogen atoms, which may be dissociated (the second less easily than the first). Dissociate your carbonic acid model. Ht 2H+ HH Carbonic Acid Hydrogen ion Bicarbonate ion Hydrogen ions Carbonate ion Notice that all the above reactions are reversible. An equilibrium between the reactants and the products is established in this type of reaction, which depends on the concentration of each reactant or product. The equilibrium may be shifted in such a reaction by increasing or decreasing the concentration of the reactants or products. The concentration of hydrogen ions can be expressed chemically as the pH. pH = log10 [H+] Because the pH scale is negatively logarithmic, pH decreases as the hydrogen ion concentration increases and commonly ranges between 0 and 14, with 7 considered neutral. b. dissociation of compounds Acids are defined as proton (hydrogen ion) donors. The process of a hydrogen ion dis- associating itself from an acid is called dissociation. Carbonic acid has two hydrogen atoms, which may be dissociated (the second less easily than the first). Dissociate your carbonic acid model. Ht 2H+ HH Carbonic Acid Hydrogen ion Bicarbonate ion Hydrogen ions Carbonate ion Notice that all the above reactions are reversible. An equilibrium between the reactants and the products is established in this type of reaction, which depends on the concentration of each reactant or product. The equilibrium may be shifted in such a reaction by increasing or decreasing the concentration of the reactants or products. The concentration of hydrogen ions can be expressed chemically as the pH. pH = log10 [H+] Because the pH scale is negatively logarithmic, pH decreases as the hydrogen ion concentration increases and commonly ranges between 0 and 14, with 7 considered neutral