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

Question

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

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Answer 1 · 2017-02-11T22:40:27

How about this?

Step 1.

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

Step 1 Step 1

Step 2.

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

Step 2 Step 2

Step 3

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

Step 3 Step 3