2836 - Carbonates; peroxocarbonates (percarbonates); commercial ammonium carbonate containing ammonium carbamate:

This HTS category, 2836, encompasses a range of inorganic carbonate compounds, along with peroxocarbonates (percarbonates) and commercial ammonium carbonate. This collection of substances is primarily defined by the presence of the carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻) or the percarbonate ion (CO₄²⁻) in their chemical structure, and their classification within Chapter 28 signifies their nature as inorganic chemicals. The scope extends to various metal carbonates and ammonium carbonate, which is a mixture of ammonium carbamate and ammonium bicarbonate.

Distinguishing HTS 2836 from its sibling categories, which span diverse product groups from live animals (Chapter 01) to various manufactured goods, is straightforward. Chapter 28 itself focuses on inorganic chemicals, and within this chapter, 2836 is specifically demarcated by the chemical composition related to carbonates and percarbonates, differentiating it from other inorganic compounds like acids, bases, or salts not containing these specific functional groups.

The subcategories within 2836 provide a breakdown based on the specific cation associated with the carbonate or percarbonate radical. These include distinct classifications for disodium carbonate, sodium hydrogencarbonate (bicarbonate), potassium carbonates, calcium carbonate, and barium carbonate. Further subdivisions within "Other" allow for the classification of less common carbonates not explicitly listed. This detailed breakdown facilitates precise tariff application based on the chemical identity and primary cation of the substance.