Yes, copper can be water soluble, but its solubility depends heavily on factors like pH and concentration.
Here's a breakdown:
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Solubility and pH: The pH level of the water significantly impacts how much copper will dissolve.
- At a pH of 5.5, copper is soluble across various concentrations.
- As the pH increases (becoming more alkaline), the solubility decreases. For example, a maximum of 4 mg/l of copper dissolved at pH 6.5 and a maximum of 1.3 mg/l at pH 7.4.
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Concentration Matters: The total concentration of copper present also plays a role, especially at higher pH levels. There's a limit to how much copper will dissolve, even if other conditions are favorable.
In simpler terms, acidic water (lower pH) dissolves more copper. As water becomes more neutral or alkaline (higher pH), less copper dissolves. The amount of copper already present in the water also affects how much more can dissolve.
