le Chatelier's Principle can be seen in natural systems and one of the more well known examples is the chemistry of carbon dioxide (CO2) in seawater. There are three main chemical equations involved for the reactions of CO2 in the ocean. The first is the air-to-sea equilibrium between CO2 in the atmosphere and CO2 dissolved in the ocean: (1)    CO2(atm) <=> CO2(ocean) Once in the ocean, CO2 the reacts reversibly with a water molecule, H2O, to form a hydrogen ion, H+, and a bicarbonate ion, HCO3-: (2)    CO2(ocean) + H2O <=> H+ + HCO3- Use le Chatelier's Principle and the two reactions above to explain why adding more CO2 to the atmosphere would increase H+ in the oceans. The increase in H+ is referred to as ocean acidification.

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le Chatelier's Principle can be seen in natural systems and one of the more well known examples is the chemistry of carbon dioxide (CO2) in seawater. There are three main chemical equations involved for the reactions of CO2 in the ocean. The first is the air-to-sea equilibrium between CO2 in the atmosphere and CO2 dissolved in the ocean:

(1)    CO2(atm) <=> CO2(ocean)

Once in the ocean, CO2 the reacts reversibly with a water molecule, H2O, to form a hydrogen ion, H+, and a bicarbonate ion, HCO3-:

(2)    CO2(ocean) + H2O <=> H+ + HCO3-

Use le Chatelier's Principle and the two reactions above to explain why adding more CO2 to the atmosphere would increase H+ in the oceans. The increase in H+ is referred to as ocean acidification. 

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