sci.energy

>Reply to article by: "ExterminateAllRepubliKKKans"
>Date written: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 01:58:08 -0400
>MsgID:< $ @ >

>> "The addition (or removal) of CO2 to a solution does not change the
>> alkalinity" ( /wiki/Alkalinity)

>Carbonic acid
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>Carbonic acid

>Carbonic acid (ancient name acid of air or aerial acid) has the formula
>H2CO3. It is also a name sometimes given to solutions of carbon dioxide in
>water, which contain small amounts of H2CO3. The salts of carbonic acids are
>called bicarbonates (or hydrogencarbonates) and carbonates. It is a weak
>acid. Carbonic acid should not be confused with carbolic acid, an antiquated
>name for phenol.

>Carbon dioxide dissolved in water is in equilibrium with carbonic acid:

>CO2 + H2O ? H2CO3

Correction: CO2 + H2O --> H2CO3 <--> H(+) + HCO3(-) <--> H(+) + CO3(-2)

The equilibrium is dependant on the pH of the water, with high pH favoring
CO3(2-) and low pH favoring H2CO3, and HCO3(-) in between.

On the other hand, CaCO3 has a much larger effect on pH because of the Ca atoms
react with the OH(-) radicals in water. That is why the vast majority of the
source of CO2 dissolved in the oceans does not come from the atmosphere, but
from rain weathered carbonates like CaO3.

>The equilibrium constant at 25°C is Kh= ×10?3: hence, the majority of
>the carbon dioxide is not converted into carbonic acid and stays as CO2
>molecules. In the absence of a catalyst, the equilibrium is reached quite
>slowly. The rate constants are s?1 for the forward reaction (CO2 + H2O
>? H2CO3) and 23 s?1 for the reverse reaction (H2CO3 ? CO2 + H2O).

The Sage

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"It is a cold fact: the Global Cooling presents humankind
with the most important social, political, and adaptive
challenge we have had to deal with for ten thousand years.
Your stake in the decisions we make concerning it is of
ultimate importance; the survival of ourselves, our children,
our species" (Lowell Ponte, 1976)
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