Carbon dioxide dissolves in water according to the equations: CO2( g) + H2O(l )H2CO3(aq) H2CO3(aq) + H2O(l)HCO3-(aq) + H3O+(aq) Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased about 20% over the last century. Given that Earth's oceans are exposed to atmospheric carbon dioxide, what effect might the increased CO2 be having on the pH of the world's oceans? What effect might this change be having on the limestone structures (primarily CaCO3) of coral reefs and marine shells?

Video transcript

Hi everyone here we have a question that tells us when sulfur dioxide in the air mixes with water, it becomes software acid, which is a component of acid rain, and it gives us two equations to sulfur dioxide gasses plus oxygen gasses forms to sulfur trioxide gashes and sulfur trioxide gashes plus water liquid form sulfuric acid a quiz. And the question is, what is the effect of the increase in the amount of sulfur dioxide due to burning more fossil fuels of the ph of the rain? What is its effect on structures made of limestone such as coral reefs and marine shells? An increase in sulfur dioxide causes more sulfur dioxide will react with oxygen and more sulfur trioxide will be dissolved in water and produce more sulfuric acid and more acidic rain. When acid rain hit structures made of limestone, a neutralization between limestone and sulfuric acid occurs. So an increase in sulfur dioxide in the air decreases the P. H. Of acid rain and increases the hydrogen in the ocean that dissolves limestone. And that is our final answer. Thank you for watching. Bye.