Carbonate Chemistry

Definition

The pH dependent equilibrium among carbonic acid, bicarbonate, and carbonate that governs carbonate availability for scaling.

In cooling towers carbon dioxide stripping pushes pH upward, and in boilers bicarbonate decomposition shifts the same equilibrium. As pH rises the balance moves from carbonic acid and bicarbonate toward carbonate ion. This speciation determines whether calcium carbonate can form because only carbonate ion supplies the low solubility partner for calcium.

Related concepts

Bicarbonate Decomposition · Alkalinity · Carbon Dioxide Stripping

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧪 chemistry