422BEST PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT (BPJ): The method used by a permit writer to develop
technology-based limitations on a case-by-case basis using all reasonably available and relevant
data.
BIOCHEMISTRY: The chemistry of organisms.
BOILING POINT: The temperature in which the substance starts to boil.
BOILING POINT ELEVATION: The process where the boiling point is elevated by adding a
substance.
BOILING: The phase transition of liquid vaporizing.
BOND: The attraction and repulsion between atoms and molecules that is a cornerstone of
chemistry.
BREAK POINT CHLORINATION: The process of chlorinating the water with significant quantities
of chlorine to oxidize all contaminants and organic wastes and leave all remaining chlorine as free
chlorine.
BRIDGING: The tendency of sediment, filter, or seal media to create an obstruction if installed in
too small an annulus or to rapidly. Also can occur within filter packs requiring development.
BROMINE: Chemical disinfectant (HALOGEN) that kills bacteria and algae. This chemical
disinfectant has been used only on a very limited scale for water treatment because of its
handling difficulties. This chemical causes skin burns on contact, and a residual is difficult to
obtain.
BRONSTED-LOWREY ACID: A chemical species that donates a proton.
BRONSTED-LOWREY BASE: A chemical species that accepts a proton.
BUFFER: Chemical that resists pH change, e.g. sodium bicarbonate
BUFFERED SOLTION: An aqueous solution consisting of a weak acid and its conjugate base or
a weak base and its conjugate acid that resists changes in pH when strong acids or bases are
added.
BURETTE (also BURET): Glassware used to dispense specific amounts of liquid when precision
is necessary (e.g. titration and resource dependent reactions).
C
Ca: The chemical symbol for calcium.
CADMIUM: A contaminant that is usually not found naturally in water or in very small amounts.
CALCIUM HARDNESS: A measure of the calcium salts dissolved in water.
CALCIUM ION: Is divalent because it has a valence of +2.
CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM AND IRON: The three elements that cause hardness in water.
CaOCl2.4H2O: The molecular formula of Calcium hypochlorite.
CARBON DIOXIDE GAS: The pH will decrease and alkalinity will change as measured by the
Langelier index after pumping carbon dioxide gas into water.
CARBONATE HARDNESS: Carbonate hardness is the measure of Calcium and Magnesium and
other hard ions associated with carbonate (CO32-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) ions contained in a
solution, usually water. It is usually expressed either as parts per million (ppm or mg/L), or in
degrees (KH - from the German "Karbonathärte"). One German degree of carbonate hardness is
equivalent to about 17.8575 mg/L. Both measurements (mg/L or KH) are usually expressed "as
CaCO3" – meaning the amount of hardness expressed as if calcium carbonate was the sole
source of hardness. Every bicarbonate ion only counts for half as much carbonate hardness as a
carbonate ion does. If a solution contained 1 liter of water and 50 mg NaHCO3 (baking soda), it
would have a carbonate hardness of about 18 mg/L as CaCO3. If you had a liter of water
containing 50 mg of Na2CO3, it would have a carbonate hardness of about 29 mg/L as CaCO3.
CARBONATE, BICARBONATE AND HYDROXIDE: Chemicals that are responsible for the
alkalinity of water.
CATALYST: A chemical compound used to change the rate (either to speed up or slow down) of
a reaction, but is regenerated at the end of the reaction.
CATHODIC PROTECTION: An operator should protect against corrosion of the anode and/or the
cathode by painting the copper cathode. Cathodic protection interrupts corrosion by supplying an
electrical current to overcome the corrosion-producing mechanism. Guards against stray current
corrosion.
CATION: Positively charged ion.