Answer:
c. increase and lower the pH
Explanation:
The amount of CO2 that is in the atmosphere and that the seas absorb has increased due to human activity, this amount that the seas absorb naturally, is decomposing the balance causing the pH of the water to fall, that is to say acidification. The pH value is 8.2 with a variation of 0.3 units between the oceans.
The reaction goes like this: if the system absorbs more CO2, more hydrogen ion (H +) is produced on the other side of the reaction, which in turn reacts with the carbonate ion (CO3) 2-, which comes from calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) of the shells of many animals, the reaction produces an imbalance in the calcification of these shells, the hydrogen ion prevents shellfish from using it to build their shells.
Reaction:
CO2 + H2O <—-> H2CO3 <—-> H+ HCO3-
