Can you help me understand the chemistry of chlorinated swimming pools? When the pH is tested and found off balance, usually an alkaline power is first added and then some acid a few hours later.
Why?
Why not just add less of the acid only or less of the alkaline only? Does anyone know theory of the chemistry behind swimming pools?
Answer for your question you can find
http://www.lenntech.com/processes/disinfection/chemical/disinfectants-chlorine.htm
I don't think it is about neutralizing alkalinity from hypochlor as the link to Lenntechs fine homepage suggests.
I think it could be that the alkaline powder is a bicarbonate salt. If you pour acid on top of it before it is distributed you will create a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) in one spot in the pool that will leave the pool as gas. If you wait for an even distribution before the acid is added the carbon dioxide supersaturation will be moderate and you have a buffer system with a high concentration of bicarbonate and carbon dioxide.
This is one way of stabilizing pH in a pool which is mostly used for private pools. It isn't smart chemistry as the carbon dioxide will slowly degas to increase pH. If the pool is used intensively the splashing increases the degassing. In this case pH goes up suddenly and the disinfection power of chlorine decreases with pH. It is a poor design there decreases disinfection occur if the pool is suddenly used more.
Acid act as disinfectant and by addition of acid first all germs and algal masses are destroyed ant then addition of alkaline solution help in cleaning them & other dust particles etc.
Dr. Qureshi, the question states that the alkaline salt is added first. How is acid disinfecting?
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