CO2 and Ocean pH Background

Carbon Speciation in a Closed System

In a closed system, we can more specifically analyze the relative concentration of each species. Since a closed system cannot lose molecules from solution, the total concentration of all species of a molecule (C_T) must remain constant, even if relative amounts of species differ.

Since equation 15 must remain a constant value in a closed system, we can consider the percent relationship between the three concentrations. For carbonic acid, this relationship is

percent of total of carbonic acid

By substituting equations 12-14 into equation 16, we can further simplify it:

substitution of equations 12-14 into equation 16

further simplification of the carbonic acid percent equation

simplified carbonic acid percent of total equation