Carbonic Acid
carbonic acid. (kar-ba'-nik ae'sid)
1. Formula: H2CO3. A weak and unstable acidic compound formed by the combination on carbon dioxide and water. It reacts with bases to form salts called carbonates and bicarbonates, and with alcohols and other compounds to form esters such as diethyl carbonate. 2. In brewing literature this term is often synonymous with carbon dioxide.