What is carbonated water's formula?

Carbonated water is essentially water (H₂O) with dissolved carbon dioxide (CO₂). When CO₂ dissolves in water, it forms a weak acid called carbonic acid.

Chemical representation:

CO₂ + H₂O ⇌ H₂CO₃

What does this mean?

• Carbon dioxide reacts with water
• Forms carbonic acid (H₂CO₃)
• This reaction is reversible

So, what is the formula?

• Carbonated water is commonly represented as:
  H₂CO₃ (carbonic acid in solution)

But technically, it is a mixture of CO₂ and H₂O, not a pure compound.

Key Takeaway:

Carbonated water contains dissolved CO₂ forming carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), which gives it its characteristic fizz and slight acidity.