NCEES FE Environmental Exam 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When the pH is greater than 12.3, the dominant species in the water is carbonate (CO3^2-), and the system exhibits high alkalinity due to the presence of hydroxide ions (OH-). In this highly alkaline environment, the calculation of alkalinity focuses on both the carbonate and hydroxide ion concentrations.

The equation alk = 2[CO3^2-] + [OH-] effectively accounts for the contributions from carbonate and hydroxide ions to the overall alkalinity in water. The factor of 2 in front of [CO3^2-] reflects that each carbonate ion can react with two protons, effectively contributing double the alkalinity to the solution compared to single proton donors. Additionally, the presence of hydroxide ions also contributes significantly to the alkaline quality of the solution, as OH- can neutralize acids.

Understanding this relationship is crucial, especially in scenarios where the water body experiences pH values above 12.3, leading to a predominantly carbonate system that strongly influences water's buffering capacity. By using this formula, one can accurately assess the alkalinity in such alkaline waters, which is essential for environmental engineering and water quality assessment.