Ocean Acidification

Ocean Acidification is, as its name suggests, a lowering of the pH of the ocean water. This is caused by the dissolution and reaction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into water; this process is also used in the manufacturing of soft drinks to create a fizzy, acidic taste. However, as one may suspect, a clam living in a pool filled with soda is unlikely to live comfortably. Though the gradually increasing acidity of the ocean is not of the same level of soft drinks, the acidification of the ocean still causes problems as the marine environment becomes changes. However, as concentration of atmospheric CO₂ increases, more is absorbed into the ocean, which pushes the reaction towards the end result of the CO₃²

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is used for the formation of structures in many marine invertebrates, including mollusks and corals. However, CaCO₃ also reacts with CO₂: With these reactions, the end result is that more 2HCO₃^-, the bicarbonate ion, is formed and less carbonate becomes available for use for these marine organisms to use. At the same time, with more protons (H⁺) prevalent in the water, the pH decreases and acidity of the water increases. In the end, the water changes to become an environment that many organisms may have trouble adjusting to, while at the same time diminishing the amount of resources they need in order to build their body structures.

CO2 + H2O à H2CO3	Carbonic Acid
H2CO3 ↔ H+  + HCO3-	Bicarbonate ion
HCO3- ↔ H+ + CO32-	Carbonate ion