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Article: Fresh Water, Natural Composition of
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- Water:Science and Issues
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Fresh Water, Natural Composition of
Although water has the simple formula H
2
O, it is a complex chemical solution. "Pure" water essentially is nonexistent in the natural environment. Natural water, whether in the atmosphere, on the ground surface, or under the ground, always contains dissolved minerals and gases as a result of its interaction with the atmosphere, minerals in rocks,
organic
matter, and living organisms.
Chemical Controls of Water Composition
The acidity of water is gauged by its
pH
, which is a measure of the concentration of the hydrogen
ion
(H
+
) in the solution according to the relationship pH =
−
log(H
+
). The higher the concentration of H
+
in the water, the ...