Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #118 Carbonate species

Randy Holmes-Farley

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Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #118

What is the rank order of carbon dioxide species in seawater at pH 8, from highest concentration to lowest? (> means greater than)


A. Carbonate > bicarbonate > carbon dioxide/carbonic acid
B. Bicarbonate > carbonate > carbon dioxide/carbonic acid
C. Carbonate > carbon dioxide/carbonic acid > bicarbonate
D. Bicarbonate > carbon dioxide/carbonic acid > carbonate

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Randy Holmes-Farley

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And the answer is...B. Bicarbonate > carbonate > carbon dioxide/carbonic acid

Here's a graph of mine of the relative concentration of these species as a function of pH:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-10/rhf/index.php

from it:

Relative fraction of carbon dioxide and carbonic acid (black), bicarbonate (white) and carbonate (red) in seawater as a function of pH.

Figure1.jpg
 
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