Dissolved Inorganic Carbon

Definition

The combined pool of all inorganic carbon species dissolved in water: CO2/H2CO3, bicarbonate, and carbonate.

Carbonate speciation is the distribution of this pool among its forms as conditions change. Because carbonic acid is unstable and low in concentration, it is lumped with dissolved CO2 when accounting for the pool. The total carbon stays roughly conserved while the levers move it between species.

Related concepts

Carbonate Equilibrium · Carbonate Speciation

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧪 chemistry