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Questions and Answers
What is the measure of water's acidity?
The measure of water's acidity is its capacity to neutralize base.
How does carbon dioxide typically enter surface waters?
Carbon dioxide typically enters surface waters by absorption from the atmosphere.
Why might ground waters contain significant amounts of carbon dioxide?
Ground waters may contain significant amounts of carbon dioxide due to bacterial oxidation of organic matter.
What is the result of carbon dioxide reacting with calcium carbonate and water?
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What type of acidity is commonly found in many industrial waters?
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What substances can cause significant amounts of sulphuric acid in drainage from abandoned mines?
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What is the chemical reaction for the formation of sulphuric acid from sulphur and water?
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How does $FeS_2$ react to form sulphuric acid?
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What is the role of sulphur oxidizing bacteria in natural waters?
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What happens to surface waters in terms of carbon dioxide equilibrium?
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Study Notes
Acidity of Water
- Acidity of water is the measure of its capacity to neutralize base
- Carbon dioxide is a normal component of all natural waters
- Carbon dioxide can enter surface waters through absorption from the atmosphere, following Henry's law
- Surface waters constantly absorb or give up carbon dioxide to maintain equilibrium with the atmosphere
Carbon Dioxide in Waters
- Carbon dioxide can also be produced in waters through biological oxidation of organic matter
- Particularly in polluted water, carbon dioxide is produced through biological oxidation
- Ground waters and waters from the hypolimnion of stratified lakes and reservoirs often contain considerable amounts of carbon dioxide
- This concentration results from bacterial oxidation of organic matter, which is not free to escape to the atmosphere
Carbon Dioxide Concentration
- The concentration of carbon dioxide is not limited by the amount of dissolved oxygen originally present
- It is not uncommon to encounter ground-waters with 30 to 50 mg/l of carbon dioxide
- This is particularly true of waters that have percolated through soils that do not contain enough calcium or magnesium to neutralize the carbon dioxide through the formation of bicarbonates
Mineral Acidity
- Mineral acidity is present in many industrial waters, particularly those of the metallurgical industry and some from the production of synthetic organic materials
- Certain natural waters may also contain mineral acidity, such as drainage from abandoned mines, lean dumps, and “gob” piles
Sulphuric Acid and Salts
- Sulphuric acid or salts of sulphuric acid can be present in drainage from abandoned mines, lean dumps, and “gob” piles
- These are formed through the conversion of sulphur, sulphides, or pyrites by sulphur-oxidizing bacteria under aerobic conditions
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Description
This quiz covers the acidity of water, its capacity to neutralize base, and the role of carbon dioxide in natural waters. It also touches on the connection to Henry's law and biological oxidation of organic matter.
