Which of the following represents the compound with the formula H2CO3?

Master chemistry nomenclature with our test! Featuring essential concepts, exercises, and explanations. Dive deep into chemical naming conventions!

The compound with the formula H2CO3 is known as carbonic acid. This is because the formula represents an acid formed from carbon dioxide (CO2) when it dissolves in water, leading to the formation of carbonic acid. In the structure of carbonic acid, the presence of two hydrogen atoms attached to a carbonate group (CO3) denotes that it is an acid. This aligns well with typical naming conventions in organic and inorganic chemistry where compounds are named based on their functional groups, and for acids formed from anions, the common practice is to use the name derived from the corresponding anion.

In contrast, formic acid is denoted by the formula HCOOH, acetic acid is represented by CH3COOH, and citric acid has the formula C6H8O7. Each of these compounds has distinct molecular structures and properties that differ significantly from those of carbonic acid. Hence, recognizing the correct name from its formula is crucial for understanding and categorizing different acids correctly in chemistry.

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