Cation to Anion Ratio Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate cation to anion ratio is:

\[ \text{CAR} = \frac{\text{Cation Charge}}{\text{Anion Charge}} \]

Where:

(CAR) is the cation to anion ratio
(Cation Charge) is the total charge of cations in milliequivalents per liter (meq/L)
(Anion Charge) is the total charge of anions in milliequivalents per liter (meq/L)

What is a Cation to Anion Ratio?

The cation to anion ratio is a measure of the balance between positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions) in a solution. It is used to assess the chemical stability of water and other solutions, as well as to predict potential reactions and interactions between different ionic species. A balanced ratio is crucial for maintaining the proper functioning of biological systems and for the treatment of water to prevent scaling and corrosion.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Cation Charge = 10 meq/L
Anion Charge = 5 meq/L

Using the formula:

\[ \text{CAR} = \frac{10}{5} = 2 \]

The cation to anion ratio is 2.