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Re: Bringing pH down
On Thu, 19 Nov 1998, Morten Karlsen wrote:
>
> Anyway, I have this old book - which holds formulas & stuff, related to chemistry.
> It's WAY to long since I learned this stuff - so I cannot advise on this topic - but a thought occured when seeing the list of acids...
>
> These look interesting:
> H2CO3 and HNO3 / HNO2.
H2CO3 is carbonic acid. Carbonic acid doesn't actually exist as a pure
compound. It the same thing as carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).
You dose "H2CO3" by adding CO2. It's a great way to lower pH.
HNO3 is nitric acid. It's a strong acid and works just like sulfuric
or hydrochloric acid when it comes to lowering pH. The NO3- part is
nitrate and that will fertilize your plants and algae.
HNO2 is nitrous acid. It's a strong acid like nitric acid, but the NO2-
part is nitrite -- it's toxic. Nitrobacter and other nitratifying
bacteria will convert it to nitrate in due time, but it might kill a few
things before they do.
CO2 for H2CO3 can be purchased bottled or produced by yeast. You might be
able to get nitric acid at a pharmacy. When I was a child back during the
industrial revolution I could buy it with the requirement (since it's a
dangerous chemical) that I sign for it. I don't know that nitrous acid is
readily available.
Roger Miller