How to Calculate Alkalinity As CaCO3

By an eHow Contributor

Alkalinity is a water characteristic that quantifies the capacity of water to neutralize acids,
namely, accepts hydrogen ions H+. Alkalinity of natural water is mainly due to the presence of
two forms of the carbonate ions denoted as HCO3(-) and CO3(2-) that act as a buffer system.
Alkalinity prevents sudden changes in the acidity level of water and, hence, is important for fish
and other aquatic life. It is measured in mg/L of CaCO3. Naturally occurred alkalinity is in the
range from 400 to 500 mg/L. As an example, calculate alkalinity if 1 L of water contains 035 g
of HCO3(-) and 0.12 g of CO3(2-) carbonate ions.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions
Things You'll Need:
• Calculator
• Periodic table of the chemical elements

Calculate the molar mass of HCO3(-),CO3(2-) and CaCO3 as the sum of mass of all
atoms in the molecule. Atomic weights of corresponding elements are given in the
periodic table of the chemical elements (see Resources).
Molar mass (HCO3(-)) = M(H) + M(C) + 3 x M(O) = 12 + 3 x 16 = 61 g/mole.
Molar mass (CO3(2-)) = M(C) + 3 x M(O) = 12+ 3 x 16 = 60 g/mole.
Molar mass (CaCO3) = M(Ca) + M(C) + 3 x M(O) = 40 + 12 + 3 x 16 = 100 g/mole.

Divide the molar mass by the ion charge or oxidation number (for CaCO3) to determine
equivalent (Eq.) weights.
Eq. weight (HCO3(-)) = 61 / 1 (charge) = 61 g/Eq.
Eq. weight (CO3(2-)) = 60 / 2 (charge) = 30 g/Eq.
Eq. weight (CaCO3) = 100 / 2 (oxidation state) = 50 g/Eq.

Divide masses of HCO3(-) and CO3(2-) by their equivalent (Eq.) weights to calculate a
number of equivalents. In our example,
Number of Eq. (HCO3(-)) = 0.35g / 61 g/Eq = 0.0057 Eq.
Number of Eq. (CO3(2-)) = 0.12g / 30 g/Eq = 0.004 Eq.
Equivalents are needed to reflect the following fact. Each ion HCO3(-) reacts with one
hydrogen proton H+, but each CO3(-2) ion can accept two protons or two equivalents.

Add up equivalents of HCO3(-) and CO3(2-) to calculate the alkalinity expressed in

equivalents of CaCO3. In our example,
 Number of Eq. (CaCO3) = 0.0057 Eq + 0.004 Eq = 0.0097 Eq/L. Multiply it by 1,000 to
get it in milliequivalents: 0.0097 Eq/L x 1,000 = 9.7 mEq/L.

Multiply alkalinity in "Eq/L" by the equivalent weight of CaCO3 to calculate it in g/L. In

our example,
Alkalinity as CaCO3 = 0.0097 Eq/L x 50 g/Eq = 0.485 g/L = 485 mg/L.

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