Textbook Question
From what you have learned about water, why do coastal regions tend to have milder climates with cooler summers and warmer winters than do inland areas at the same latitude?
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Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 2, Problem 13
Stony corals secrete thin layers of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) to build the foundation of coral reefs. The relationship between calcium carbonate, carbonic acid, and calcium bicarbonate (Ca(HCO3)2) is shown below:
CH2O3(ππ)+CaCO3(π ) β Ca(HCO3)2(ππ)
Predict what will happen to the calcium carbonate foundation of reefs as CO2 levels rise in the oceans.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the chemical reaction: The reaction CH2O3(aq) + CaCO3(s) β Ca(HCO3)2(aq) shows that carbonic acid (CH2O3) reacts with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) to form calcium bicarbonate (Ca(HCO3)2).
Recognize the source of carbonic acid: Carbonic acid forms when carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves in water. As CO2 levels in the ocean increase, more CO2 dissolves, forming more carbonic acid.
Analyze the effect on the reaction: With more carbonic acid in the ocean, the reaction is pushed to the right, according to Le Chatelier's Principle, which states that a system at equilibrium will adjust to counteract a change in conditions.
Predict the impact on calcium carbonate: As the reaction shifts to the right, more calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is converted into calcium bicarbonate (Ca(HCO3)2).
Consider the ecological consequences: The dissolution of calcium carbonate weakens the structural integrity of coral reefs, potentially leading to their degradation as CO2 levels continue to rise.
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Calcium Carbonate Chemistry
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is a key component of coral reefs, providing structural integrity. It can dissolve in acidic conditions, which occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) reacts with water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). This process can lead to the formation of bicarbonate ions (Ca(HCO3)2), impacting the availability of calcium carbonate for coral growth.
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04:19
Carbon
Ocean Acidification
Ocean acidification refers to the decrease in pH levels of ocean water due to increased CO2 absorption. As CO2 levels rise, more carbonic acid is formed, which lowers the pH and increases the acidity of seawater. This change in acidity can hinder the ability of corals to secrete calcium carbonate, ultimately threatening the stability of coral reef ecosystems.
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Coral Reef Ecosystem Dynamics
Coral reefs are complex ecosystems that rely on the balance between calcium carbonate deposition and dissolution. Healthy reefs depend on the ability of corals to build their structures through calcium carbonate secretion. Disruptions in this balance, such as those caused by rising CO2 levels, can lead to reef degradation, affecting biodiversity and the services reefs provide to marine life and human communities.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Consider the reaction between carbon dioxide and water to form carbonic acid (CH2O3):
CO2(π)+H2O(π)βCH2O3(ππ)
In the ocean, carbonic acid immediately dissociates to form a proton and bicarbonate ion, as follows:
CH2O3(ππ)βCHO3β(ππ)+H+(ππ)
As atmospheric CO2 increases, the ocean absorbs more of the gas. Would this sequence of reactions be driven to the left or the right? How would this affect the pH of the ocean?
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