Alkalinity

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-001053",
  "term": "Alkalinity",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Having the properties of a base with a pH of more than 7. A common alkaline is baking soda.\n\n2. The capacity of water to neutralize acids.\n\n3. (AL-ka-LIN-it-tee) The capacity of water to neutralize acids. This capacity is caused by the water's content of carbonate, bicarbonate, hydroxide and occasionally borate, silicate, and phosphate. Alkalinity is expressed in milligrams per liter of equivalent calcium carbonate. Alkalinity is not the same as pH because water does not have to be strongly basic (high pH) to have a high alkalinity. Alkalinity is a measure of how much acid can be added to a liquid without causing a great change in pH.\n\n4. The capacity of bases to neutralize acids. An example is lime added to lakes to decrease acidity.\n\n5. The capacity of water for neutralizing an acid solution.\n\n6. A pressure- and temperature-independent property of seawater that determines in part the carbon content of seawater. Carbonate alkalinity is the sum of the concen- tration of bicarbonate plus two times the concentration of the carbonate ions. Total alkalinity is the amount of acid required to bring seawater to a pH at which all dis- solved inorganic carbon becomes freely exchangeable. The alkalinity of the oceans is determined with potentiometric or normal titration techniques that detect and measure the presence of bicarbonate, carbonate, and borate ions.",
  "subject": "General environmental",
  "references": [
    "Environmental Issues Terms & Acronyms; Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Greenhouse Emissions Glossary",
    "Aquatic Biodiversity Glossary",
    "Drinking Water Technical & Legal Terms",
    "Terms of Environment",
    "USGS Water Science Glossary of Terms",
    "NASA Sustainable Development Indicators Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/alkalinity/"
}