Chapter 21.8, Problem 3Q

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: the largest concentrated carbon containing species at the pH conditions of aquarium is to be determined.

Concept introduction:

The pH of the aquarium is 8.

The acid base equilibrium between $H_{2}C{O}_3$, $HC{O}_3{}^{-}$ and $C{O}_3{}^{2-}$ is,

$H_{2}C{O}_3\rightleftharpoons HC{O}_3{}^{-}+H^{+}$

$HC{O}_3{}^{-}\rightleftharpoons C{O}_3{}^{2-}+H^{+}$

Equation for finding $p{K}_a$ is,

$p{K}_a=-\log K_a$