Explain what natural carbonate buffer system is. You may use a lake for your example. Solution As the name suggests the \"natural carbonate buffer system\". The carbonate is formed by the natural carbon di oxide gas. Let us consider for a lake. Lake is a large water body whose surface is open to the atmosphere. We already know that Buffers are the mistures of weak acid and its conjugate bases that have withstanding capacity of the pH changes. Here the natually available CO2 combines with H2O to form H2CO3. H2CO3 is Carbonic acid i.e weak acid. Carbonic acid splits into H2CO3 ---------) H+ + HCO3- Ions. CaCO3 , Calcium carbonate is a commanly available mineral in the deposites of the lakes. it splits into CaCO3 ---------) Ca2+ + CO32- ions. CO32- of Calcium carbonate combines with water to form OH - and HCO3- . H+ formed by the Carbonic acid combines with OH- to form water. This phenomenon forms buffer of Weak acid ( Carbonic Acid) and weak base forming water thus maintaining the pH of the Lake. This process is termed as natuall carbonate buffer system..

1. Explain what natural carbonate buffer system is. You may use a lake for your example.
Solution
As the name suggests the "natural carbonate buffer system". The carbonate is formed by the
natural carbon di oxide gas. Let us consider for a lake. Lake is a large water body whose surface
is open to the atmosphere. We already know that Buffers are the mistures of weak acid and its
conjugate bases that have withstanding capacity of the pH changes.
Here the natually available CO2 combines with H2O to form H2CO3. H2CO3 is Carbonic acid
i.e weak acid. Carbonic acid splits into
H2CO3 ---------) H+ + HCO3- Ions.
CaCO3 , Calcium carbonate is a commanly available mineral in the deposites of the lakes. it
splits into
CaCO3 ---------) Ca2+ + CO32- ions.
CO32- of Calcium carbonate combines with water to form OH - and HCO3- . H+ formed by the
Carbonic acid combines with OH- to form water. This phenomenon forms buffer of Weak acid (
Carbonic Acid) and weak base forming water thus maintaining the pH of the Lake.
This process is termed as natuall carbonate buffer system.