help please with this acid/base question? thanks

I know for it to be a base it must accept a proton but I don't see how this happens from that equation

thnx

if anyones kind enough to reply plz quote me so i don't miss it

thnx v much

It accepts a proton by taking a hydrogen from the H2PO4 and splitting into H20 and CO2.


I think anyway - It's actually a strange question

i know for it to be a base it must accept a proton but i don't see how this happens from that equation

thnx

if anyones kind enough to reply plz quote me so i don't miss it

thnx v much

When you get asked questions like this
eg 'why does this act as a salt, or this act as an acid'
Just reel off the definition of an acid or base or salt, and relate it to the question
eg this one:
definition of base: proton/H+ acceptor
so HCO3- accepts a proton (H+ ion) as is takes a hydrogen off the H2PO4 (which then splits it to H2O and CO2)

Specifically, I think you'd have to say that it accepts the proton using a lone pair of electrons.

hco3- + h+ -> h2co3 <-> h2o + co2