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Discussion
distinguishing ion species, we have been forced into using empirical approaches to measure and analyse
those metallic fractions of biological significance. These approaches should not be belittled because
they do allow aquatic biology to advance despite the lact of understanding of the underlying
theoretical chemistry.
Reply
The empirical approaches used by biologists (and chemists) to measure and analyze those metallic
fractions of biological significance, are invaluable. The discrepancy between concepts of solution
chemistry and operational approaches gives us valuable insight into the circumstances where chemical
reactions are not sufficiently understood or where the available data are not sufficiently specific.