Ocean Acidification: Affecting The Ph Of The Ocean Water Supply

Ocean acidification is the decrease in the pH of the ocean water supply. Ocean acidification has been affecting the earth’s water supply because of an increase in carbon dioxide being absorbed into the water along with other pollution and trash. The acidification has gotten so severe, that some of the marine life that lives in the ocean is dying out because they can’t adapt or they are poisoned by the carbon dioxide. This can lead to marine life extinction and food shortages for humans as well as them becoming sick by eating contaminated seafood. Scientists over the years have been researching as much as they can about ocean acidification and what it’s effects have done, and will lead to in the future. History has shown that is will get worse as time progresses if changes are not made. The chemical equation for ocean acidification is CO2 + H2O + CO3-2> 2HCO-3. This shows how the carbon dioxide creates a chemical change creating carbonic acid when added to salt water. Education is needed along with tougher regulations to stop ocean acidification from getting even worse.

To really comprehend the problem you must first understand ph levels in the ocean water. The ph scale runs from 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic, 14 being the most basic and seven is considered neutral. Ocean water had been about 8.2 on the ph scale and has decreased to 8.1. Although this doesn’t seem like a big change, even this slight shift could damage our ocean environment. Oceans absorb about 25% of the carbon dioxide humans produce each year. The reason why this has happened is thought to be because of the Industrial Revolution which introduced machines and