Chemistry:Total boron

Short description: Sum of boron species in a solution

The total boron (B_T) is the sum of boron species in a solution. In the environment these species usually include boric acid and borate, for example:

B_T = [H
2BO−
3] + [H
3BO
3]

where

• B_T is the total boron concentration
• [H
  2BO−
  3] is the dihydrogen borate concentration
• [H
  3BO
  3] is the boric acid concentration

Total boron is an important quantity when determining alkalinity due to borate's contribution to a solution's acid neutraling capacity. Total boron is a conservative element in seawater, and can thus be calculated by simply knowing the salinity.

See also

• Total organic carbon
• Total Alkalinity(A_T)
• pH