Ocean Chemistry & Acidification
📋 What it is
Seawater is salty and slightly basic; absorbing extra CO₂ makes it more acidic, harming shell-builders.
🗣️ Coach says
Seawater is a chemical soup — mostly salt, plus dissolved gases and minerals. The ocean absorbs huge amounts of CO₂ from the air, which is helpful for climate but has a cost: it makes the water more ACIDIC. That acidification makes it harder for corals, shellfish and plankton to build their shells.
🧠 Memory hook
Seawater = salty chemistry. It absorbs CO₂ (helps climate) BUT gets more acidic → harder for shells to form.
😂 Giggle
Why don't anglerfish ever need flashlights?
They come with their own built-in lure lighting!
😲 Whoa!
The ocean has absorbed roughly a quarter of all the CO₂ humans have ever released — quietly slowing climate change, but paying for it by turning more acidic.
✅ Quick check: How does the ocean absorbing extra CO₂ harm sea creatures?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
It makes seawater more acidic, making it harder for corals, shellfish and plankton to build their shells.
Acidification impairs shell/skeleton formation.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Recall that a shell is like chalk — acid dissolves chalk, which is why acidifying water hurts shells.