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Chemistry · Glossary

What is Ocean acidification?

Also known as: saturation state

Definition 32.7 University Chemistry — Year 3 · Chapter 32 — Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology

Ocean acidification is the decrease of the pH of sea water as it takes up carbon dioxide from the air. The saturation state of a carbonate mineral is Ω=[CaX2+][COX3X2−]/Ksp\Omega = [\ce{Ca^2+}][\ce{CO3^2-}]/K_{sp}: above 1 the mineral can form, below 1 it tends to dissolve.

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