Use the Partial Pressure slider to observe the concentration of the various species in solution. All values are given as base ten logarithmic function.
Notes on the Java applet:
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The applet runs real-time algorithms to generate values. The coarse values generated are an undesired side effect of the graphic interface.
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Java is a powerful and versatile high-level programming language. However, its lack of application specificity in this particular case, makes generating graphical user interfaces complex and time consuming.
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A more thorough model would be to present a user field in which a pressure value could be entered and the resultant dissolved carbonate numerical values calculated and displayed. While this method would be far more useful to the practicing chemist, who would more likely be interested in generating actual values, a bar-graph graphical display provides an 'at-a-glance feel' for the interaction between equilibria. It is the opinion of the author that this type of display would be of greater pedagogical value to those not familiar to the dynamics of multiple equilibria.
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The Ka value given above for the first ionisation of H2CO3 is correct for this molecule. However, in aqueous solution carbonic acid only exists in equilibrium with carbon dioxide so many quoted values will give a Ka value that is the product of the hydration constant and the ionisation constant.
