Abstract
The pH of water is a master variable because many reactions that control water quality are pH dependent. Normal waters contain both acids and bases and biological processes tend to increase either acidity or basicity. The interactions among these opposing compounds and processes determine pH. Carbon dioxide is particularly influential in regulating pH. It is acidic, and its concentration is in continual flux as a result of its utilization by aquatic plants in photosynthesis and release in respiration of aquatic organisms. The alkalinity of water results primarily from carbonate and bicarbonate ions, and this variable tends to buffer water against excessive pH change. A basic understanding of the relationships among pH, carbon dioxide, and alkalinity are essential to the student of water quality.
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References
To convert bicarbonate to alkalinity, multiply by a factor of 50/61, which is the ratio ofthe equivalent weights of calcium carbonate and bicarbonate.
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© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Boyd, C.E. (2000). pH, Carbon Dioxide, and Alkalinity. In: Water Quality. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4485-2_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4485-2_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7021-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-4485-2
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