Randy Holmes-Farley
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My Tank Thread
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Did you mean?
CO2 + H2O --> HCO3- + H2O
Carbonate buffers are consumed before the OH- ... correct?
Maybe this is what I am missing?
No, the reaction you wrote is incorrect. Charge and total atoms must match on both sides. Mine is correct.
yours would also suggest that adding CO2 increases alkalinity, which it cannot.
OH- is present at every pH. There is just steadily less and less as pH drops.