1. What is Alkalinity?

Alkalinity is a measure of water's capacity to neutralize acids, representing the buffering capacity of water. It's typically expressed in ppm (parts per million) as CaCO₃ (calcium carbonate).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the alkalinity formula:

Where:

• \( A \) — Alkalinity (ppm as CaCO₃)
• \( V_a \) — Volume of acid used (ml)
• \( N_a \) — Normality of acid (N)
• \( V_s \) — Volume of sample (ml)
• 50 — Conversion factor to express as CaCO₃

Explanation: This formula calculates the alkalinity based on titration results, where acid is added to a water sample until it reaches a specific pH endpoint.

3. Importance of Alkalinity Measurement

Details: Alkalinity measurement is crucial for water treatment processes, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications. It helps determine water's ability to resist pH changes and indicates the presence of carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide ions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the volume of acid used in titration (ml), the normality of the acid (N), and the volume of the water sample (ml). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between alkalinity and pH?
A: pH measures how acidic or basic water is, while alkalinity measures water's capacity to resist pH changes (buffering capacity).

Q2: What are typical alkalinity values for drinking water?
A: Drinking water typically has alkalinity between 20-200 ppm as CaCO₃, though values can vary based on source water characteristics.

Q3: Why is alkalinity important in water treatment?
A: Proper alkalinity helps maintain stable pH levels during coagulation, disinfection, and corrosion control processes in water treatment.

Q4: What pH endpoint is used for alkalinity titration?
A: Typically pH 4.5 for total alkalinity (using methyl orange indicator) or pH 8.3 for phenolphthalein alkalinity.

Q5: Can this calculator be used for seawater samples?
A: While the formula is the same, seawater alkalinity is typically much higher (around 100-125 ppm) and may require special consideration for accurate measurement.