Dissolution and Precipitation of Calcite: The Chemistry of the Heterogeneous Surface

Abstract

As already stated dissolution of calcite is a complex process comprising three different, simultaneously acting mechanisms: 1. Diffusion of the reactants, such as H+, H 2C03 and CO2, towards the calcite surface and also diffusion of the dissolved products Ca 2 +, CO~-and HCO;-into the bulk of the fluid. 2. Conversion of CO 2 into the aggressive reactants H+ and H 2C03 by the reaction H 2 0 + co 2 Q = H+ + HC0 3 .