What is the outcome of a reaction involving a metal carbonate and a carboxylic acid?

The reaction between a metal carbonate and a carboxylic acid typically results in the formation of a salt and carbon dioxide gas. In this reaction, the metal carbonate reacts with the carboxylic acid, leading to the displacement of carbon dioxide, which often forms bubbles indicative of the gas being produced.

The general equation for such a reaction can be represented as:

[ \text{Metal Carbonate} + \text{Carboxylic Acid} \rightarrow \text{Salt} + \text{Carbon Dioxide} + \text{Water} ]

While water can also be produced depending on the specific reactants involved, the key distinguishing feature of this reaction is the generation of carbon dioxide. The final products include a salt—derived from the metal ion and the carboxylate ion of the acid—and carbon dioxide, which is a hallmark of carbonate-acid reactions.

Other options, while they mention water or salt, do not account for the characteristic production of carbon dioxide that occurs when a metal carbonate reacts with a carboxylic acid. Therefore, the outcome of the reaction highlights both the formation of a salt and the release of carbon dioxide.