Approximate Sketching of an Alpha Diagram

Quite rough a sketches can give valuable information about the species present and their relative amounts under various conditions. A summary of the regularities and fixed points we have observed in the foregoing cases should point the way to rapid construction of diagrams  

Choose coordinates ordinate, a from 0 to 1 abscissa, log[L] from two units below — logXx to two units above — logK v (or use the corresponding pH and pX in acid-base systems). 

Finish the highest two curves for ocf and a i in symmetry with the first two in step 1 above. 

After some practice, students can sketch these diagrams quite rapidly for use in approximate problem solving. Remember, the intersection log [L] values are quite correct, only the heights of the a curves are being approximated. The sum of all the alphas should equal 1. Thus, only one curve can be above 0.5 at any point. 

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