Properties of the water molecule
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Dissolution of gases in water, oxygen content | |||||||||
Equilibrium of carbonate, bicarbonate and carbon dioxide in water.
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Acidity and alkalinity of water
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Metal ions | |||||||||
Chelation | |||||||||
Effect of humic substances |
The interaction of carbonates and carbon dioxide, water alkalinity, its pH, and metal ions such as calcium and magnesium is important. A reasonable amount of carbonate in the water will tend to prevent rapid shifts of pH, which, in natural bodies of water, can be devastating to biota.
Humic substances are also important--especially their ability to bind metal ions. Humic materials help to prevent the contamination of groundwater with high concentrations of metal ions.
Chemistry
topics:
(Basic chemistry topics which are applied in this chapter)
Chapter 3, Questions 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, 13, 23