Addition of base (NaOH) to the reaction CO2 + H2O <-> H2CO3<-> H+ + HCO3- will cause?

Question

Addition of base (NaOH) to the reaction CO2 + H2O <-> H2CO3<-> H+ + HCO3- will cause?

1. Increased production of CO2 
2. Shift of the reaction to the right 
3. Decreased HCO3- production 
4. Increased production of H+ 
5. None of the above

Answer 1

The additional base added (OH-) would react with the (H+) to form H2O. This would essentially reduce the concentration of H+ in solution.

By Le Chatelier's principle, a decrease in H+ will temporarily shift the equilibrium of the equation to the right.

This means that CO2 and H2O would be consumed while additional HCO3- will be formed!

Since increasing [OH-] results in a decrease in [H+] (higher pH), you could also say that the equilibrium of the reaction would shift to the right with an increase in pH.