RockWorks | Utilities | HydroChem | Ion Balance
This program reads a listing of ion concentrations from the datasheet and computes cation:anion ratio for each sample, in milli-equivalents per liter. The computations are stored in a column in the datasheet.
RockWorks uses the following equation for the ion balance:
( ( cations - anions ) / ( cations + anions ) ) x 100
Feature Level: RockWorks Basic and higher
Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
- Input Columns: These prompts tell RockWorks which columns in the current datasheet contain the input data.
Click on an existing name to select a different name from the drop-down list.
- Sample ID: If you have sample numbers listed for your sites, choose the column where these are listed.
- Na, K, Ca, Mg: Choose the columns that list these required cations. The measurements must be listed in ppm or mg/l units.
- Cl, HCO3, CO3, SO4: Choose the columns that list these required anions. The measurements must be listed in ppm or mg/l units.
- Additional Cations
- Cation A, B, C, D: Use these checkboxes to turn on up to 4 additional (non-standard) cations to be included in the calculations. Click in each check-box to turn an ion on or off.
- Data Column: For each cation that you activate, select the name of the column in the current datasheet where the data is listed.
- Conversion Factor: For each cation that you activate, you also need to declare a conversion factor to convert from ppm or mg/l to milli-equivalents. See Conversion Factors for help.
! This is important - RockWorks will not know this conversion factor automatically. You need to enter it manually.
- Additional Anions
- Anion A, B, C, D: Use these checkboxes to turn on up to 4 additional anions to be included in the calculations. Click in each check-box to turn an ion on or off.
- Data Column: For each anion that you activate, select the name of the column in the current datasheet where the data is listed.
- Conversion Factor: For each anion that you activate, declare a conversion factor to convert from ppm or mg/l to milli-equivalents. See Conversion Factors for help.
! As above, this is important - RockWorks will not know this conversion factor automatically. You need to enter it manually.
- Output Column: This prompt tells RockWorks where to store the computed values.
- Ion Balance: Select the name of the column in the current datasheet into which the computed ion balance for each sample is to be stored.
! Any existing data in the selected column will be overwritten.
- Access the RockWorks Datasheet program tab.
- Create a new datasheet and enter/import your hydrochemistry data into the datasheet.
Or, open one of the sample files and replace that data with your own. See Data Layout for datasheet examples.
! Click the Example button at the top of the window to load a sample file that is installed with the program.
- Select the Utilities | HydroChem | Ion Balance menu option.
- Enter the requested program settings, described above.
- Click the Continue button to proceed.
The program will read the concentrations of all declared ions (standard and additional), convert them to milli-equivalents per liter using the declared conversion factors, and compute the ion balance. The values will be recorded in the selected column in the datasheet.
Back to Hydrochemistry Menu Summary
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