Carbonate

Carbonate is a chemical compound that contains the carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻), which consists of one carbon atom atom bonded to three oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar shape. It is commonly found in natural materials like limestone, chalk, and marble, and plays a key role in the Earth's carbon cycle. Carbonates are also used in industry for manufacturing cement, glass, and as antacids to neutralize stomach acid. In nature, they form through biological and chemical processes, often as a result of the accumulation of shells, skeletons, or mineral deposits.