ANALYSIS OF WATER AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS. 39 
Properties oF 
reaction 
---A- 
Acids 
Bases 
its amount is determined by the smaller of its two components. In 
other words, the 22.3 per cent of strong acids present, in connection 
with an equal amount of alkalies, forms 44.6 per cent of primary 
salinity. This leaves an excess (19.5 per cent) of the alkalies which 
balances with an equal value of the weak acids and induces the prop¬ 
erty primary alkalinity to the extent of 39 per cent. Of the 27.7 
per cent of weak acids 8.2 per cent are then left 
in balance with the total (8.2 per cent) alkaline 
earths, which gives rise to 16.4 per cent of sec¬ 
ondary alkalinity. This water is therefore char¬ 
acterized by 44.6 per cent primary salinity, 39 
per cent primary alkalinity, and 16.4 per cent 
secondary alkalinity. On the basis of these prop¬ 
erties, or relations of reacting values, it may be 
rationally classified or compared with any other 
water. 
In the analysis selected the alkalies exceed the 
strong acids and therefore induce primary alka¬ 
linity. If the reverse were true, and the strong 
acids exceeded the alkalies, it is evident that a 
different property would result. In such a water 
some of the strong acids would be balanced by 
the alkaline earths and secondary salinity would 
result instead of primary alkalinity; in other 
words, the water would be permanently hard. 
The writer has found this distinction one of the 
most valuable features of Palmer’s classification, 
for by it all waters are separated into two impor¬ 
tant groups. The distinction is valuable indus¬ 
trially, for it separates permanently hard waters 
from those whose hardness is mostly lost on boil¬ 
ing. The distinction is of equal importance geo¬ 
logically. Thus, the surface waters on the west 
side of San Joaquin Valley are characterized by 
high sulphate and low carbonate and by roughly 
equal amounts of the alkalies and alkaline earths; 
some of the strong acids are balanced by alkaline 
earths and the waters have, therefore, the prop¬ 
erty of secondary salinity. On the other hand, in most of the waters 
associated with the oil the alkalies are very high and sulphate is 
lacking; in these waters some of the alkali group are in equilibrium 
with weak acids and the waters therefore have the property of pri¬ 
mary alkalinity. By a study of the properties of the waters all the 
stages in the transition from the extreme secondary saline type to the 
extreme primary alkaline type may be definitely traced, and distinc- 
Figure 2.—Graphic repre¬ 
sentation of analysis 31 
(Table 5, p. 66), showing 
method of deducing the 
properties of a water from 
its composition. 
