•245 
The Ionic Phase of the Sea. 
some of the combined H 3 C0 3 (present in large quantity) must 
automatically decompose into H 2 0 and C0 2 until the equilibrium 
is restored. To get this, if the H 2 C0 3 is all ionized, some H' and 
HC0 3 ' ions roust recombine ; while if the C0 3 " ions be removed by 
the plant, more HC0 3 ' must dissociate, and so on. In either case, 
in the long run, the plant may be said to utilize HCO’ 3 of the acid 
carbonates, although there may be no acid carbonate molecules in 
the sea, but only the corresponding ions. 
The preceding action may be made good in the course of time 
by the absorption physically of more C0 2 from the atmosphere by 
ordinary diffusion-rate, but this requires time; hence the ionic pro¬ 
cesses are in a state of constant flux, since one ionic operation 
upsets the equilibrium of all the other ions. 
As examples of ionic reactions involved by the “ dissociation ” 
effects of H 2 C0 3 and water, the following may be considered 
(Gaarder);— 
(1) C0 2 + H 3 0 
(2) H 2 C0 3 
(3) HCO a ' 
(4) H\ OH' 
Li H,CO< 
H’, HC0 3 '. 
H’, C0 3 ". 
h 2 o. 
as also, involving the relations of monocarbonate or bicarbonate ;— 
(5) C0 3 "+H 2 C0 3 2 HC0 3 ' 
(6) C0 3 " + 2 HOH g - > H 2 C0 3 +20H' 
(7) HCO' 3 + HOH , • ^ H 2 C0 3 +0H' 
(8) C0 3 "+HOH , HC0 3 '+0H' 
and representing 8 reversible reactions for which distinct constants 
will obtain ; while any interference with one reaction sets all the 
others in motion, as all require to be readjusted. From a botanical 
standpoint the arrangements are f urther complicated, as plant-life 
removes C0 2 in sunlight, but gives it back in hours of darkness. 
Since it is not possible to follow mathematically the mutual 
relations of the ions of more than two substances, it thus follows 
that the sea presents an organization of inconceivable physical 
complexity, constituting phases of molecular association and 
dissociation ; so that if one cares to extend the conception of “ life ” 
to such non-molecular processes, the aqueous phase of the sea may be 
conceived as one vast mass of “ life,'’ the primordial material of which 
protoplasmic units are but individualized particles or segregated 
centres of actions , still more complex, but of the same category. 
Further if the ionic relations of such apparently simple chemical 
substances as C0 2 and H 2 Q may be so complex, one gets a faint 
