Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Natural Acidity.
Natural rainwater is slightly acidic because it interacts with carbon dioxide
(CO 2 ) in the atmosphere, forming carbonic acid (H 2 CO 3 ). Some of the
carbonic acid in the rainwater then breaks down (dissociates), producing
more hydrogen ion and bicarbonate ion, both of which are dissolved in the
rainwater.
The two reactions in rainwater are as follows:
H 2 O + CO 2 = H 2 CO 3
H 2 CO 3 = HCO 3
−
+H +
The hydrogen ion produced by the second reaction lowers the pH of rain-
water. How far it lowers it from the neutral value of 7 depends on how much
carbonic acid is in the water as a result of the first reaction, although a limit
exists as defined by the equilibrium constant of the reaction. The
concentration of carbonic acid, then, depends on how much carbon dioxide is
in the atmosphere. In other words, when more CO 2 is present, more acid is
produced, and the water becomes more acidic.
The Earth's atmosphere presently contains, on average, approximately 0.3
percent carbon dioxide. Using this value in the two reactions above,
hydrologists can calculate that the concentration of H + in rainwater at
chemical equilibrium is 10 −5.7 moles per liter. This concentration is
equivalent to a pH of 5.7, a calculated figure that is close to many actual
measurements of rainwater. Because pH 7 is neutral, pH 5.7 is considered
slightly acidic. Although natural rain is slightly acidic owing to the natural
reaction between rainwater and atmospheric carbon dioxide, the term
"acid rain" usually is applied to rainwater that has been made
unnaturally acidic by human-caused emissions of nitrogen and sulfur oxides.
Reference : http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/En-Ge/Fresh-Water-Natural-
Composition-of.html
Water
Combining water with a cementitious material forms a cement paste by the
process of hydration. The cement paste glues the aggregate together, fills
voids within it, and allows it to flow more freely.
Less water in the cement paste will yield a stronger, more durable concrete;
more water will give an freer-flowing concrete with a higher slump.[11]
Impure water used to make concrete can cause problems when setting or in
causing premature failure of the structure.
Reference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete