What is meant by the term “Dibasic acid”?

Acid

An acid is a compound that contains Hydrogen ion $\left({\mathrm{H}}^{+}\right)$. It can be replaced by a metal or a basic radical.

Dibasic Acid

• The acid which produces two ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ions is known as Dibasic acid. It dissociates in two steps, so its basicity is 2.

Example

• Sulfuric acid$\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$, Carbonic acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3\right)$,and Oxalic acid$\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_4\right)$.

Chemical equation

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\rightleftharpoons {\mathrm{H}}^{+}+{\mathrm{HSO}}_4^{-} \\ {\mathrm{HSO}}_4^{-}\rightleftharpoons {\mathrm{H}}^{+}+{\mathrm{SO}}_4^{-2} \\ {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\rightleftharpoons 2{\mathrm{H}}^{+}+{\mathrm{SO}}_4^{-2} \end{gathered}$$

• Sulfuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ shows two ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ ions.
• Sulfuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ is dibasic acid.