The following data are for the Columbia River, just below the Dalles Dam, for December

1, 1958. Convert the data to milliequi

Ion Concentration (parts per million) MolecularWgt valence meq

HCO3-1 108 61 1 1.7705 anions

SO4-2 19 96.066 2 0.3956 cations
F-1 0.5 19 1 0.0263 difference
Cl-1 4.9 35.457 1 0.1382
NO3-1 0.3 62 1 0.0048
Ca+2 23 40.08 2 1.1477
Mg+2 6.2 24.32 2 0.5099
Na+1 16 22.991 1 0.6959
K+1 0 39.1 1 0.0000

equivalent weight = molecular weight/valence

SO4-2 19 mg/L x(96/2) meq/mg = .3956meq/L

Convert the data to milliequivalents and compare the concentration of anions and cations for ion balance.

ion balance

2.335
2.353
-0.018 ~0.7% difference is very close, so we can assume that the measured concentrations are fairly accurate
re fairly accurate