Question

What is cation exchange? How is the best way to plot surface water or groundwater data to see if you have cation exchange?
Can you recommend references to learn more about this?
Thank you

Answer 1

Have you tried Googling?

Answer 2

Cation exchange is the process of a mixture flowing through a system in which the cations ( K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, etc) are exchanged for another positive ion, usually H^+. Sometimes it goes through two steps, the first changing to Na^+ and the second exchanging all the Na for H. I would think milliequivalents/L something like that would provide the data you need.

Answer 3

After thinking about this for a short time, I assume the context in which you are using cation exchange, is that any one or more cations can exchange for another more abundant cation in ground water.

Answer 4

DrBOB222 -
So, if I have cation data for Surface water and groundwater...how do I plot the data to see if I have cation exchange going on.
Would I just begin plotting any given cation on the x-axis and another cation on the y-axis and then what...what would the graph look like if there was exchange happening.
I guess I am trying to find out if these waters (surface water and shallow groundwater) are coming into contact at all (i.e., mixing).