Problem 115
Greenhouse Gases and Ocean pH Some climate models predict the pH of the oceans will decrease by as much as 0.77 pH unit due to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide. a. Use the appropriate chemical reactions and equilibria to explain how increasing atmospheric \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) produces a decrease in oceanic pH. b. How much more acidic (in terms of \(\left[\mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{+}\right]\) ) would the oceans be if their \(\mathrm{pH}\) dropped this much? c. Oceanographers are concerned about the impact of a drop in oceanic pH on the survival of oysters. Why?
Problem 135
Chickens do not have sweat glands, so when they become overheated, they cool themselves by panting (taking short, quick breaths). This lowers the concentration of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) in their blood. If chickens pant too much, this causes the shells on chickens' eggs to become so thin that they break easily. Eggshells are about \(95 \%\) calcium carbonate. Explain the effect of panting on shell thickness by considering the equilibrium between \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}(a q)\) and \(\mathrm{CO}_{3}^{2-}(a q)\) in blood.