552 CYCLES OF ORGAXIC AND INORGANIC SUBSTANCES 



Table II. Number of Moles of Major Components Corresponding to 1 Liter of 

 Sea Water (Calculated from \\ M. Goldschmidt's estimates) 



" The sediments are estimated to contain 0.46 mole CaCOs and. 0.09 mole MgCOs 

 (Goldschmidt, 1933). 



*" Only the carbonate C has been considered, not coal or bitumen. 



In an attempt to understand the reactions that may determine 

 the composition of "model" sea water, we may imagine a process 

 in which 1 liter of sea water, with the corresponding amounts of 

 solids and gas phase, is prepared by mixing the constituents, 

 starting with the more abundant ones. We shall try to imagine 

 what the result would be if real equilibrium were obtained after 

 each addition; we may then compare this with what is known 

 about the composition of the "real" average sea water, sediments, 

 and air (Fig. 1). 



Please note that I did not state that there is a true equilibrium 

 in the real system. It would be identical with the model. I only 

 suggested that it may be worth while to try to find out what the 

 true equilibrium would be like, and that one might learn something 

 from a comparison with the real system. We shall often find that 

 sufificient data are lacking to make the discussion very precise. 



