[Mikez]

I am stuck on this question:

2LiOH + CO2 ->  Li2CO3 + H2O  Explain how you determine which reagent is the acid and which is the base. Explain why this is a neutralization reaction.

I know that LiOH is the base but I don't understand how CO2 is an acid. I thought that all acids must have a hydrogen ion.

I googled it and found that H2O can be written as HOH to help with writing the products (switching the anion and cation). Does this mean that H2O can be written HOH for all double displacement equations?

thanks

[enahs]

This question is poor, or you left something out.

Does he question specifically say all of these are in aqueous conditions? If so, it might not be such a poor question.

But the reaction is better written as:

LiOH_(s) + H₂O -> LiOH ^. H₂O _(s)
2 LiOH ^. H₂O _(s) + CO₂ ->Li₂CO_{3 (s)} + 3 H₂O

Do you know what carbon dioxide and water give you?

And yes, you can write water was H₂O or HOH whenever you so please, it is just a written way to represent water.