KH carbonate hardness - Alkalinity vs PH confusion

jbmac · Sep 13, 2016

Ph meters measure the ratio of acid vs base in a solution, yet Alkalinity is a measure of the hardness of water? Can someone explain this contradiction of K being a measure of the hardness of water and alkaline vs acid measurements? Thanks

potpimp · Sep 14, 2016

Alkalinity is the quantitative capacity of an aqueous solution to neutralize an acid; it's a base as opposed to an acid. Water hardness is when water percolates through deposits of calcium and magnesium carbonates. One doesn't really not the same as the other.

jbmac · Sep 14, 2016

Thanks, do you agree it is very confusing? KH = carbonate hardness (alkalinity) and alkalinity is the opposite of acid on a PH measurement? Thanks

Kingrow1 · Sep 14, 2016

Strong and weak acids as well as strong and weak alkalis mess with ph even futher, conjugate bases, buffers. Then on top of it youve got other elements such as chlorides, sulphates etc etc.

The more you look at it the more you need some kind of science degree, ive yet to see a comprehensive thread that explains everthing...

potpimp · Sep 15, 2016

Kingrow1 said:
Strong and weak acids as well as strong and weak alkalis mess with ph even futher, conjugate bases, buffers. Then on top of it youve got other elements such as chlorides, sulphates etc etc.

The more you look at it the more you need some kind of science degree, ive yet to see a comprehensive thread that explains everthing...

We need CannaBear in here.

KH carbonate hardness - Alkalinity vs PH confusion

jbmac

Member

potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator

jbmac

Member

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member

potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator