Premium
The ion‐association model and the buffer capacity of the carbon dioxide system in seawater at 25°C and 1 atmosphere total pressure
Author(s) -
Whitfield Michael
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1974.19.2.0235
Subject(s) - carbon dioxide , buffer (optical fiber) , carbonate , chemistry , seawater , atmosphere (unit) , ion association , ion , carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere , inorganic chemistry , carbon fibers , buffer gas , partial pressure , environmental chemistry , thermodynamics , oceanography , materials science , geology , organic chemistry , physics , oxygen , telecommunications , laser , composite number , computer science , optics , composite material
The ion‐association model of Berner has been extended to calculate the contributions of the various ion‐pair formation reactions to the buffer capacity of the carbon dioxide system in seawater. These reactions are shown to make the major contribution to the equilibrium buffer capacity at pH values greater than 8. However the indifference of the pH to quite large changes in solution composition arises, not from any pH‐statting effect, but because the metal‐carbonate ion‐pairs form only a small proportion of the total cation concentration under normal conditions.