Here's a breakdown of the reaction:
* Acid (e.g., vinegar, citric acid): The acid provides hydrogen ions (H+).
* Sodium bicarbonate (soda): This contains bicarbonate ions (HCO3-).
Reaction:
H+ (from acid) + HCO3- (from soda) → H2CO3 (carbonic acid) → H2O (water) + CO2 (carbon dioxide)
The carbonic acid (H2CO3) formed is unstable and quickly decomposes into water and carbon dioxide gas, which is what you see as bubbles.