How does carbonate affect pH?
- How does carbonate affect pH?
Carbonate ion concentrations increase with increasing pH and when more CO2 dissolves in seawater it becomes more acidic. The bicarbonate and carbonate ions are responsible for the buffering capacity of seawater, i.e. seawater can resist drastic pH changes even after the addition of weak bases and acids.
- Is rainwater neutral?
Pure water has a pH of 7.0 (neutral); however, natural, unpolluted rainwater actually has a pH of about 5.6 (acidic) .Natural Acidity of Rainwater.GasNatural SourcesConcentrationCarbon dioxide CO2Decomposition355 ppmNitric oxide NOElectric discharge0.01 ppmSulfur dioxide SO2Volcanic gases0-0.01 ppm