Carbonate salts

Carbonate salts, also known as carbonate salts, are inorganic compounds containing the carbonate ion (CO3). This ion consists of one carbon atom surrounded by three oxygen atoms. At steady state, carbonate salts are colourless and crystalline. They have a wide range of applications in various industries as they are a key ingredient in many products.

One of the best-known representatives of carbonate salts is sodium bicarbonate, known as baking soda, which is used, for example, in baking as a leavening powder. Another very important representative is calcium carbonate, which is the main constituent of limestone and marble and is used in various industries from construction to glassmaking. Sodium carbonate, often referred to as soda ash, is important in the paper industry where it is used in the production of paper pulp. In addition, carbonate salts are used in the pharmaceutical industry, water purification, cosmetic products, fertiliser production, the food industry and many others. Their properties are also used in some medical applications, for example as an antacid to neutralise stomach acids.