Total boron

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:

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B_T = [H₂BO₃⁻] + [H₃BO₃]

where,

B_T is the total boron concentration
[H₂BO₃⁻] is the dihydrogen borate concentration
[H₃BO₃] 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