Total boron

The total boron (BT) is the sum of boron species in a solution. In the environment these species usually include boric acid and borate, for example:


 * BT = [H2BO3−] + [H3BO3]

where


 * BT is the total boron concentration
 * [H2BO3−] is the dihydrogen borate concentration
 * [H3BO3] is the boric acid concentration

Total boron is an important quantity when determining alkalinity due to borate's contribution to a solution's acid neutraling capacity. Total boron is a conservative element in seawater, and can thus be calculated by simply knowing the salinity.