Carbonation (Dissolution of CO2)

Definition

The physical step where carbon dioxide gas in the air surrounding water pushes some of itself into solution as dissolved CO2.

This is the entry point of the carbonate chain from the air side, governed by Henry’s Law from Chapter 3: any CO2 partial pressure in the air will drive some gas into solution. Once dissolved, CO2 does not just float around, it reacts with water. Only a very small fraction of the dissolved CO2 goes on to react, but it is enough to drive everything that follows.

Related concepts

Carbonate Equilibrium · Henry’s Law · Carbonic Acid Formation

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧪 chemistry