Seawater PH And CO2 Flashcards
What are the 11 major elements in seawater?
Na, Cl, Mg, K, Ca, HCO3 etc.
What are the minor elements?
NO3, PO4, Si
What does the low pH result from?
Concentrated weak ethanoic acid or diluted strong sulphuric acid.
Why do surface waters have a higher pH?
Because there is less CO2
What is the seawater CO2 cycle?
hydrated, carbonic acid dissociates
Total CO2 concentrations?
CO2, H2CO3, HCO3-, CO32-
>99% in sea water = HCO3 and CO3
What happens if temperature at the surface increases?
CO2 will decrease
What happens in the buffering of seawater?
Oceans are considered to be well buffered because adding large amounts of acid/base causes little change. Not limitless.
What happens if seawater is undersaturated with CaCO3?
The shells will start to dissolve.
Where do calcareous shells form?
From in surface marine waters and sink through the water column when the organism dies.
Whats the difference between calcite and aragonite?
calcite = stable aragonite = unstable
