ABSTRACT
Water exhibits a rich and varied chemistry with the H2O molecule acting as a participant in many chemical phenomena and water functioning as a unique solvent in which chemical reactions occur. Furthermore, aquatic life, especially microorganisms, play a very strong role in water chemistry (see Section 2.10 and Chapter 6). The main categories of aquatic chemical phenomena are illustrated in Figure 3.1. This chapter introduces water chemistry and discusses aquatic acid-base and complexation phenomena in water. Oxidation-reduction reactions and equilibria are discussed in Chapter 4, and details of solubility calculations and interactions between liquid water and other phases are given in Chapter 5.
