Are you an EPFL student looking for a semester project?
Work with us on data science and visualisation projects, and deploy your project as an app on top of Graph Search.
Concept
Dissolved inorganic carbon
Summary
Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is the sum of the aqueous species of inorganic carbon in a solution. Carbon compounds can be distinguished as either organic or inorganic, and as dissolved or particulate, depending on their composition. Organic carbon forms the backbone of key component of organic compounds such as – proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids.
Inorganic carbon is found primarily in simple compounds such as carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, bicarbonate, and carbonate (CO2, H2CO3, HCO3-, CO32- respectively). Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) includes three major aqueous species, CO2, HCO3- ,CO32-, and to a lesser extent their complexes in solution with metal ions.
Aqueous carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid which is very unstable and will dissociate rapidly into hydronium and bicarbonate. Therefore, in seawater, dissolved inorganic carbon is commonly referred to as the collection of bicarbonate, carbonate ions, and dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2, H2CO3, HCO3-, CO32-).
CO2(aq) + H2O H2CO3 HCO3- + H+ CO32- + 2 H+
More than 99% of dissolved inorganic carbon is in the form of bicarbonate and carbonate ions meaning that most of the ocean’s carbon storing ability is due to this chemical reactivity. Sea-air flux of CO2 and the resulting dissolved inorganic carbon is affected by physical processes such as strong winds and vertical mixing, and the biological processes of photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.
Dissolved inorganic carbon is a key component of the biological pump, which is defined as the amount of biologically produced organic carbon flux from the upper ocean to the deep ocean. Dissolved inorganic carbon in the form of carbon dioxide is fixed into organic carbon is produced through photosynthesis. Respiration is the reverse process and consumes organic carbon to produce inorganic carbon. Photosynthesis, and the biological pump, is dependent on the availability of inorganic nutrients and carbon dioxide.
Official source
About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Ontological neighbourhood
Related courses (6)
ENV-200: Environmental chemistry
This course provides students with an overview over the basics of environmental chemistry. This includes the chemistry of natural systems, as well as the fate of anthropogenic chemicals in natural sys
CH-610: Inorganic chemistry "Fundamentals and properties"
To present and discuss important recent contributions in the field of inorganic chemistry with an emphasis on fundamental aspects and properties.Literature seminars based on selected publications,eman
CH-711: Inorganic chemistry "Applications and spin-offs"
Present and discuss important recent contributions in the field of inorganic chemistry. This will be achieved by student literature seminars based on selected publications,emanating from the last 12 m
Related publications (156)
Related concepts (5)
Ocean acidification
Ocean acidification is the decrease in the pH of the Earth's ocean. Between 1950 and 2020, the average pH of the ocean surface fell from approximately 8.15 to 8.05. Carbon dioxide emissions from human activities are the primary cause of ocean acidification, with atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels exceeding 410 ppm (in 2020). CO2 from the atmosphere is absorbed by the oceans. This produces carbonic acid (H2CO3) which dissociates into a bicarbonate ion () and a hydrogen ion (H+).
Marine biogenic calcification
Marine biogenic calcification is the process by which marine organisms such as oysters and clams form calcium carbonate. Seawater is full of dissolved compounds, ions and nutrients that organisms can use for energy and, in the case of calcification, to build shells and outer structures. Calcifying organisms in the ocean include molluscs, foraminifera, coccolithophores, crustaceans, echinoderms such as sea urchins, and corals. The shells and skeletons produced from calcification have important functions for the physiology and ecology of the organisms that create them.
Total inorganic carbon
Total inorganic carbon (CT or TIC) is the sum of the inorganic carbon species. Carbon compounds can be distinguished as either organic or inorganic, and dissolved or particulate, depending on their composition. Organic carbon forms the backbone of key components of organic compounds such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. Inorganic carbon is found primarily in simple compounds such as carbon dioxide (), carbonic acid (), bicarbonate (), and carbonate ().