Carbon Dioxide - Carbonic Acid Equilibrium

Carbonic acid is formed when atmospheric CO2 is dissolved in water. The chemical equilibria are 1) Gas dissolution

2) Carbonic acid formation

3) Carbonic acid equilibrium

In an open system, the partial pressure of CO2 (g) is relatively constant at P(CO2) = 0.000355 Atmosphere. The equilibrium expression is the Henry's Law equation (@ 25 C)

Thus

Using this one may obtain